Strip away the theatre and we’re just strangers in a dark room watching a mad person recite lines under the lights.

Sometimes, the pretence is the point.

But the pretense is also the problem; "everyone" knows that the minor parties are not going to get their radical policies through. But the more easily led portion of the populous does believe them. Then they gripe and get angry about fringe policy that doesn't get implemented; which then is fuel to drive further division about lying politicians who "never get anything done".

The crazy policies drive further radicalization of the voter base. So much so that sensible policy that can actually change things for the better; for most of the people in the country is seen as "bland".