Rule:  Don't condemn "politics."  Anytime three or more people interact, "politics" are involved; for better or worse.  Condemn "politicians" who only engage in "politics" for their own self aggrandisment.
Rule:  Take responsibility for your self and your family.  Don't expect others to do it for you;  especially the politicians mentioned above.  To do otherwise only worsens our culture of entitlement. Rule:  Never attribute to malice that which can be more simply explained by stupidity or even simple ignorance.   Corollary:  Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.