“America is great because of her people.”
America is controlled by the establishment.
America is like a high school.
There are the popular kids - jocks, cheerleaders, and other losers - who think we envy them and aspire to be in their Snobitorium.
To be sure, there are many weak-willed people who are drawn to these cretins, like flies to manure. This symbiotic relationship keeps these codependent enablers tidally locked.
There are also people who see the popular kids and their retinue, and talk smack about them. They talk about these “elites” and how dangerous they are, and that nobody can see their lies. In truth, they are obsessed and a few would sell their friends to be One of Them.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of the student body could care less about these losers and this charade. Further, a small but pernicious minority actively mock the popular kids in between class and attending rock concerts, because they know mockery is Kryptonite to the popular kids.
The Establishment has zero control over the people they want to control.