Voting and elections are a form of brainwashing.

When you vote you stake your reputation and place your faith into a corrupt candidate. The candidate, once elected, only needs to present flimsy excuses why they haven't fulfilled any of their campaign promises. The people that voted him into office will start coping that its all part of a plan. After 4 years enough people realize that candidate lied to them the entire time and so they vote for another party. Rinse and repeat.