I think this is a really weird take. In theory we're supposed to be putting high quality, intelligent people into these positions. Now...I can't help what the GOP decides to do on the regular, but if there was no security for someone like Obama do you think he would have even run for that job? No way. Some lunatic right winger would certainly have taken his life. There were undoubtedly attempts made that we never heard about.
So if we're not offering any protection to public high profile public figures, what kind of people do those positions attract? People who have a death wish as their only qualification? Maniacs? Criminal warlords who show up with their own secret police to protect them?