It really got going under Bush Cheney, 9/11, DHS and Iraq. The cronyism to put together the deal to invade Iraq, giving the socialists everything they wanted, the globalists everything they wanted and the crony-capitalists everything they wanted really got the swamp pumped up on steroids.
You are exactly right about the addiction. We know making laws within the states to get those off welfare can and has been done with success.
How do we get addicts to pass laws saying they can’t have their drug of choice?