If the dynamic is as you suggest, and I think there’s good reason to believe your thesis is relatively near the truth, then “we” bear a good portion of the blame.

There’s no “get out of jail free” card for civic complacency, moral indolence, intellectual sloth and spiritual vacuousness. The general failure of western citizens to participate vigorously in their own governance (pro tip: voting every once in a while and prattling on about who “you want for president” doesn’t qualify as participation) has left our institutions open to easy exploitation.

The good people can overwhelm the criminals who have infested our institutions at all levels, but it will involve tearing themselves away from their Netflix and their beer, putting aside pursuing that new car and getting moral, responsible, serious people elected to school boards, town councils, state legislatures and congress. It’s not a quick fix, but if the heretofore complacent citizens swarm it, it’s doable.

We’re at the crucial juncture: act or submit.