I think the point the comment is trying to make is that these politicians are not stupid, they are corrupt. They are not doing it because there is a problem to

I think the point the comment is trying to make is that these politicians are not stupid, they are corrupt. They are not doing it because there is a problem to be solved, they are doing it because there are bags of money to be had. A smarter politician in this context would just mean a smarter burglar.