I actually think we are being shown what it always was.
People went along willingly for decades, so the Regime got what they wanted, and was nice about it.
Now, as things get really bad for the formerly middle class, the Regime is turning to more overt repression rather than just trickery, propaganda, media manipulation.
They are getting weaker though. And the credibility of institutions has totally collapsed.
Prior to the Kennedy Assassination, say, every institution in the USA had tremendous credibility: government, business, politicians, military, security services, bureaucracy, churches, police, unions, courts, judges, schools, universities... you name it, they all had high approval ratings and public support.
Now it’s over for all of them. Even police and the military have hit rock bottom.
Terrible, but the left has been working on it for decades.
After the collapse of every institution, the leftists, however, may one day come to realize that „people freed from every constraint“ are not noble savages, but absolutely evil. „The End justifies the means“ will be the case everywhere.
I am afraid. Very afraid. Yes, I admit it☹️