Power corrupts, and it arguably has, over some time, corrupted absolutely. Even permeating into mass acceptance of counterproductive belief systems implemented against us in part through globalization.

This link. People have been conditioned to accept hypotheticals about inevitability and economic efficiency that cut against their own best interest. Is this what we mean by "public education?" A cynic might say let them have their Tea Party meetings, it's a powerless venting of dissatisfaction, and there's nothing they really can do against our elite calling all the shots for and more frequently against all of us. How it is. Edsall links here.