> Erm, you appear to have missed the last 100+ years of updates to Western Capitalism.

Not really.

> Yes, ultimately a dollar is a vote, but I don't think you can blame the people being manipulated "every bit as much" as those controlling the manipulation to feed their avarice and/or megalomania.

Oh but I do.

Collective social guilt is a thing. e.g. who is to blame for drug violence? Not only drug dealers.