It's definitely the case that we need to pin the blame on those who got us to this point

I agree. It is, however, a huge educational task.

In recent oral proceedings before the German Federal Constitutional Court, a prominent member of the Federal Diet was asked: «Why did you cast a positive ballot on this bill?» --- «Because we were told so.»

The classical parties had a sociological substrate that checked on them; the modern Volkspartei (catch all party) lives by comparison in a fantasy world. «The world as Will without Representation», as one quipped in the 1930s' Germany.

Historically, both the bureaucracies of the continent and the English Gentry had to appeal to the  public opinion in order to prevail. They had to demonstrate their impartiality, competence, respect for the Common Good.

Our problem is now how to replace (or adapt) the old mechanisms by new ones, more adapted to our times.