Hey @baerdric. I've been digging into the laws that deal with finances, banking, and cryptotrading. So far, what I've found is a mixture of what you're saying...

...we are doing the work of the oligarchs who control the story. Between the Government, corporations and media we are brought to work against each other, pulling back when the "other side" pushes, pushing when they pull back. Destroying each other in the process.

and what @everittdmickey is saying...

...thousands of beureacracies competing with each other for a bigger and bigger'piece of the pie' (budget) , like piglets at a feed trough. They could give a damn less what happens to anyone or anything else as long as they get their slop.

Thing about it is these bureaucracies don't spring up from nowhere. Typically, they're either put forth by unknown (oligarchs) or by vocal interest groups (ex. Mothers Against Drunk Driving). There are very real people who set about working to get bureaucracies in place and once they exist, that Iron Rule does come into play.