They're missing one key component (perhaps the biggest component), which is that often people are unaware of all the information they need to clearly see which incentives are in their favor and which aren't (informational asymmetry, in the parlance). This can be willful, but normally is not. It has been the strategy of the neocon movement to obscure poor people's incentives as much as possible specifically by playing to their (mostly irrational) emotional state. In this article, the author points out how strongly his geographic location is united against the Affordable Care Act, despite the fact that it has 26% poverty (an astronomical number, even third world-esque), pretty much all of whom are already, or would certainly now qualify for, government assistance. The branding and obscuring (done intentionally by monied interests) that these uneducated people are subjected to makes it pretty much impossible to determine a logical course of action.
I hear you. I don't think it's a coincidence that the country the created modern advertising also has such wily politicians. Alan Moore compares advertising people as essentially practitioners of magic that use their abilities to manipulate reality for financial gain and the detriment of all. Alan Moore is nuts, but once you get beyond his crazy exterior, he begins to make a lot of sense. I haven't checked that link out yet, but I will. I know a lot of people who are against the electoral college, but the intention of the electoral college as I understand it, was so that informed decisions could be ensured in regard to the vote. Of course, that's probably not exactly how it goes down for elections today, but "the way to hell is paved with good intentions" right? Edit: it's funny how "the War on Terror" is supposed to make Americans feel more secure and is supposed to be against extremists, but instead it turns out it's a war being waged by extremists and making people scared of their own shadows.