Years ago I saw some parallels in history from when the Protestant Catholics wars were fought in Europe. And how only so much social change could be tolerated before reactionary forces snapped back like a rubber band stretched too long.

It gives a partial answer about why systems are run by fascist morons, and the normal checks to their power is eroded.

If history is anything to go by, and normally it rhymes, things will take decades to go from bad to worse.