I think the fact that the public is less well-informed about politics than world leaders is an issue separate from the ability to have rational discussions about politics. From the fact that we have less information than world leaders it doesn't follow that we necessarily use that information less rationally. I've always considered the ability to reason under ignorance a Great Rationalist Superpower. Less information does seem to make mind-killing more likely, but you're assuming that mind-killing mechanisms are being kept in check.