The System Wasn’t Broken, It Was Taken Over

 

The System Wasn’t Broken, It Was Taken Over

Hindi Version: https://rakeshinsightfulgaze.blogspot.com/2026/01/blog-post_15.html

Across the world, the abuse of power has become increasingly visible, particularly in nations where narrow religious or ideological groups have succeeded in placing unqualified individuals into positions of authority. These movements often promote rigid, outdated beliefs that justify privilege for a few while expecting the majority to remain compliant. Power, in this view, is framed not as responsibility, but as destiny, reinforced through selective religious or ideological narratives.

Where persuasion fails, such groups frequently turn to political opportunism. Compromised leaders are elevated not for competence or integrity, but for their willingness to preserve power at any cost. What we are witnessing today in countries such as India and the United States is not a historical accident. It is the result of deliberate, long-term efforts by well-funded ideological movements to weaken democratic institutions from within.

A central tactic in this process is the deliberate capture of a compromised system. A leader who understands that institutions are already weakened by corruption quickly learns that stealing from the nation becomes easier when those institutions are staffed by compromised individuals. Once officials, bureaucrats, or regulators are implicated in wrongdoing, they can be controlled through fear. The constant threat of investigation or imprisonment ensures obedience. This form of control allows power to flow smoothly through every part of the system, from law enforcement to financial oversight. The proceeds of corruption then serve a second purpose: buying influence. With enough money, media organizations can be pressured, acquired, or incentivized to spread misinformation, suppress dissent, and normalize abuses of power through carefully crafted narratives and outright lies.

In India, the rise of right-wing ideology coincided with growing economic inequality and fragile institutional safeguards. After economic liberalization in the 1990s, the lack of well-tested regulatory frameworks made the country particularly vulnerable to corruption. Over time, control of the media and the exploitation of systemic weaknesses enabled a small group to consolidate authority. Once power was firmly established, fear replaced accountability. Officials throughout the system understood that noncompliance could result in legal consequences, while loyalty ensured protection. Political inexperience mattered less than the ability to manipulate a corrupt environment, allowing corruption itself to become an effective tool of governance.

In the United States, the trajectory has been different in form but similar in outcome. The growing influence of religious and ideological movements in politics gained momentum decades ago, fueled by fear-based narratives tied to global events and external threats. While attention remained focused on enemies abroad, corruption and ethical failures within domestic institutions were often minimized or ignored. As long as economic comfort was preserved for many, accountability was treated as optional.

The consequences are now evident. Political movements once associated with democratic ideals and moral leadership have sacrificed those principles in pursuit of power. Immigration, historically central to the nation’s identity, has been reframed through racial and ideological lenses. Enforcement mechanisms have increasingly been used in ways that raise serious concerns about civil liberties, selective targeting, and equal treatment under the law.

The broader lesson extends beyond any single country. Even the most robust legal systems can be undermined when corruption is normalized, and power is concentrated among individuals who face no real accountability. Laws alone cannot protect democracy. Institutions depend on the integrity, independence, and courage of the people who operate them.

The path forward requires public awareness, civic engagement, and a willingness to confront corruption within one’s own political system. Without sustained pressure from informed citizens, abuse of power will continue to expand, regardless of national borders or constitutional safeguards.