Perhaps it would help if I elaborated. I feel that you're filling in the blanks with some of your own projections. The locals here openly accept money for voti

Perhaps it would help if I elaborated. I feel that you're filling in the blanks with some of your own projections. The locals here openly accept money for voting. Politicians and bureaucrats are widely regarded as liars and cheats. The government's authority is checked by continuous protests. Government officials don't want to rock the boat or create further instability. Similarly, the people have very little interest in politics. There's not constant bickering or hyperbolic demonization. Political fights don't permeate every sphere of life. Everyone mostly stays in their own lane. Yes, corruption is a problem here. Corruption is also a problem in the US. However the barrier to entry is higher. K street lobbyists don't come cheaply. Yes, the government is ineffective. The question is, do the people want it to be effective? Even the private sphere is similarly ineffective. That's just a cultural norm, separate from the relationship to government.