The reason we have reached this point is because the Electorate slacked off. We the people neglected to "Guard with jealousy the tree of Liberty". We assumed that we elected people to take care of our responsibilities but that is not how it works. Government, by its nature is expansive like a gas, if you do not actively seal it out it seeps into every available nook and cranny. With out us maintaining a firm grip on our politicians our Govt. has been taken over by those who are opposed to the basic ideals of the American Republic.
Actually, I am so thoroughly pissed off at the public school system I honestly believe that we have been taught to ignore the important, actively encouraged to watch the latest episode of Housewives of Survivors in 90210 (BTW, saw an ad for Househusbands, a bunch of mopes in Beverly Hills (?) whose wives are the breadwinners. No nice corners I could see, just a bunch of piss-ant metro-sexuals living large off their wives. This should actually be in the WTF thread).
BTTT - so as your last point indicated, done on purpose by those who hate the very thing that allows them to destroy what they hate. I worry that there is not enough rope, not enough lampposts for all of the Mussolini's in our midst.