> The current level of competence at world-running is very low.

Yes? If by "running competently" you mean the prosperity of the general population and peace, sure, it's not that competent. But why'd you think that'd be their goal? If anything, Orwell's "1984" shows the mindset perfectly: keep the general public in misery, while skimming whatever cream there is; no need to try and grow the pie, there is enough for them, and the rest of the world can go buck itself.

If you read "1984", then you'll note that the elites there were barely better off than the middle class now. While living in constant fear of purges.

Russian "elites" are now getting the political-science-101 education. In 2000-s, they traded their political rights in exchange for the right to skim off the state income. They were thinking that their personal connections and money would always get them out of trouble, so why bother fixing corrupt courts and the rubber-stamping parliament?

Well, now their assets are just fodder for the new generation of the "elites" from the FSB and a few of Putin's closest friends. And the former all-powerful elites can't do anything but wait in fear.

Somehow, people like Thiel and never understand that until it's too late.