Advancing technology makes expertise in raising and spending money on campaigns more necessary.
Experts have always been involved in carrying out policy (bigger government means more such experts). Bigger government maybe means more complicated policy questions, hence greater need for experts in that vein too.
I don't think the substantive issues are beyond public comprehension. Commercialized and politicized media is the issue there.
mbs
Doug wrote (quoting Jerry Brown):
"Experts are hired to raise money, experts are hired to spend money, experts are hired to carry out policy. In some ways, the politicians are just the announcers anymore." **********************************
Hmmm.
This sounds like the description of a classic technocracy: all experts all the time, with democratic formalities and lip service paid to 'traditional values' as a technique of manipulation.