For most part, this is by design.

Countries around the world tend to have two major parties: "red neoliberals" and "blue neoliberals". Which is great if you're a neoliberal because nobody is going to get in your way of your profits with things like environmental and worker protections.

But they didn't build this managed democracy by murdering their opposition, they just showed up with class solidarity.

Dig into their lives and they all come from a handful of expensive schools and move in the same expensive circles. Politicians, corporate executives, lobbyists and media owners, all of them only ever a few steps from "went to school together" or "married to some powerful persons sister".

They look out for one another. Sure, in public they have their little spats, but it's just a pantomime as they jostle for market share. "Left-wing media" sells left-wing news to left wing people while the right wing does the same, both of them seeking to maximise profits. Journalism is a side effect at best.

The moment someone with actual power threatens actual change, watch them unite to undermine them and keep the profits of their little rich people club safe.

But how often does that happen? They usually run functionally unopposed. Good people just don't want to be politicians or journalists now, especially when they know they're going to be constantly attacked until they burn out or get killed.

The power is there for the taking but most people can't be bothered even reading this post, let alone pledging their lives to an uphill battle.

Until that changes, the rich, greedy, self-serving scumbags will just keep winning by default.