Warning> Incoming rant..... The bizarre thing about the UK, ( and possibly other 1st world countries ), is the seemingly unaware populace -that many institutions are nepotistic and gated. This may just be a universal thing, but it took me most of my adult life to slowly come to terms with the fact, the local council ( people in charge of a borough), of a small nice (going downhill over 30 years) suburb here in london, don't allow, and have never allowed as far as I can tell, the ascension to power of any outsider from the council. I could hardly believe it when I found out, I had just assumed all political / council positions were a slow process of democratic voting. But no, you can't just canvas for the role of councillor. It differs from village to village. So , 1- this is the case, 2- I was unaware most of my life ( people dont know. discuss it ) 3- the only "old timer" business man in the area, whose been there and worked 50 years has himself said "are corrupt" - clearly atleast a dim view. Now I understand this is heresay, but perhaps it honestly just take 40 years or so for endemic corruption to even "come out" and by then its just the old "who know", who soon enough pass away, their children perhaps believing it too, leaving for other areas of the globe for opportunity.

One can slowly understand why the fabric of a SEEMINGLY unfair, un-meritocratic, rule bending, society that limits vertical movement slowly ebbs apart.

EDIT > The reason I said rule bending is simply, one of the most successful people I know just lied about their academic achievements, no one seemingly bothered to check, and they took the position of someone who was honest. This must be somehow related.