The use of the word "career" is part of the problem. Politics is not meant to be a source of "this is what I do for a living to support my family and make ends meet". At that point it has become selfish ambition.
The concept of "service" is gone.
The two worst decisions in California history. 1. Ronald Reagon pushing for a full time legislature. Prior to this we had a part time group that tended to be from business and farming that could afford to serve. The fact that it did not pay well kept the hippy liberal trash and real estate agents out. 2. Term limits which have allowed hippy liberal trash of low mental standing to get the power necessary to push through union and special interest legislation that is destroying the state.
You nailed it; the ruling elite with a different brand of sanctioned racism