American democracy had near-death experience a year ago

[ECSNorway]

It isn't even so much about increasing their power as it is about acknowledging it and accepting it. They don't want to be managers and CEOs who can be fired or forced out. They want to be flat-out titled aristocrats, their power and authority cemented as Divine Right rather than the product of skill and effort. They co-opted the Republican party and dragged in the religious extremists to fortify their stance.