The life of a politician is not an easy one, politics is a game of interest and you don't go into politics without having nothing to do as a person, you must have a second address.
You can be in the party or following your master or leadership but when it is time to favor you, they can decide to call and make use of the next person, knowing fully well that you have been in the system for a long time.
The party leaders can always remember you when it is time to organize things, do all the hard work. You will be called upon to deliver all the messages but simply because maybe you don't have B'sc. They will now bring in their own personal person and fix in your place, not minding that they have used you for years with fake promises.
So with these few points, one can stop politics without even thinking twice.
I am quite confused by the description you give in politics, although I agree that politics is a game of interests.
Some people do politics to secure their business to avoid bureaucratic loopholes and protect and create additional opportunities from existing regulatory loopholes, if you are in a proper position you will have great opportunities, especially in a country that does not restrict politicians from becoming entrepreneurs or insider trading. lol
If your political interest is only to get a position and survive from political salaries and only want to spread your idealism, you are too naive, you will lose to people who have other goals, with greater capital in politics, politics is not to find food so Talk Live and die, politics is to maintain and expand influence.