It says that they are less cynical and self serving.

A two party system has meant there isn't really a party of smart people. Just a party of dumb people and slightly less dumb people.

The Democratic party isn't actively self destructive, but the right wing being as self destructive as it is is absolutely a reflection of the dysfunction of the Democratic party to serve the interests of its people and engage with the countries problems in good faith.

You get to choose between complacent short-sighted people who allowed us to get to our current point, or people who are actively trying to destroy everything about the country that actually serves its people. Thats why the left in the US regularly has heated conversations about whether it's better to vote for the lesser of two evils, or not vote at all in expression of your dissatisfaction with the one party who really needs your vote as a "left" party.

That the smart people were busy doing something more important, like science? Why would you expect smart people to participate in such a stupid game?

Not better, just more effectively, because they aren't considering the long term implications of their actions.