This is an astute, disturbing analysis. Much as I wish it were otherwise, I have little confidence that democracy can withstand the combined threats of corporate oligarchy buying off legislators and funding the pervasive brainwashing of Fox “News” and other corporate-owned media outlets—coupled with the endless distractions of television and social media and the insidious bureaucratic skullduggery you have mentioned, quietly undermining our institutions, the integrity of our elections, and our intellectual freedom while keeping us bored, deluded, and distracted.