I'm suspicious of those who continue to profess that the elite don't know what they're doing, or that they refuse to recognize the reality of the situation at hand.
On the contrary, they are perfectly aware of what is occurring. In fact, they are extremely well informed because they are in fact the authors of what is happening.
Anyone who opposes measures to enhance the security & safety of the citizenry is simply an enemy of the people. They are representatives of a state at war with its own citizens.
This is the greatest obstacle to clarity - the dark foreboding denial of truth that one's government is at war with the average person. Why? Money, wealth, power & riches - you can make a fortune being among the elite.
This situation is not really that unique at all. In fact, it happens every generation or so. France is currently on its 5th republic since 1789. In between, they've had a restoration and 2 empires. Each in turns runs its course as the elite party like it's 1999.
This time around, however, it seems like the elite have gotten wise about civil unrest and are going for the final end-game: population replacement & substitution. But it takes time to enact - in the meantime, a constant stream of propaganda is organized to defeat the will of those who would attempt to mount some kind of counter measures.
As Nelson said, it's going to be a "close run thing".
About WW1? One hypothesis as to why the US got involved was to save European banks, and bankers. It all ties together, in one big ugly package.