You think there was ever a time that politicians were respected? I can't imagine anyone throughout history ever really thinking their leaders were that great. After all, so often people were constantly getting soaked for "taxes" and pressed into wars... only a very ignorant people would really think their politicians were good.
Yeah, its kind of amazing how politicians have the ability to act like the everyday person so that everyday people never question what they do because they think they are just like them but they got lucky and made their mark in politics, when the reality is politicians no matter how high are controlled by an even higher force that doesn't care about american people or british people or african people etc.