The scarier.
Both.
The lack of teaching of 1) Proper civics, including comprehensive study of the Constitution, and 2) Basic Logic and Critical Thinking skills to our youngins should point to the cause of your 1). Most kids coming out of our high schools think double jeopardy is a game show and a red herring is a smelly fish.
Someone pointed out elsewhere that the reason we have a Representative Republic form of government in this country is avoid the precise dangers you describe in your 2). I recall reading (perhaps the Federalist Papers?) that Constitutional requirements for those serving in Congress was to make sure that intelligent, reasoned, and educated persons were running the government. One look at politics is probably enough for most intelligent, reasoned, and educated persons to choose alternate career paths.
