It's really beyond just incompetence. It's self serving malice. Can't get elected to fix a problem if the problem is fixed.

I would genuinely support something like a blood oath for politicians. Where they can take as many vows to solve an issue as they want, but if they fail to fix it. That's it. You're getting the long drop. Also you can only campaign on oaths taken just to make it extra hilarious.

"Vote for me!"

"What will you do for us?"

"A lot of things I am not going to specify!"