[ahartmetz]

Yeah, this is really messed up. I think our instincts ("tribal leader is powerful and has extra rights") are doing us a disservice. In democracies, all politicians are our employees: They are supposed to do our bidding, and if they act on their own, only in our direct or indirect (no bullshit interpretations please) interest.

[pseudohadamard]

It is pretty much a descent into tribalism. All wealth flows upwards to the leaders of the tribe, who can do anything they want without repercussions or criticism of their actions. The tribe has no use for education, or progress, or infrastructure. The tribe is about what the chief wants right now, with no need for future planning or thinking about consequences. And most of all the tribe is violent, petty and revenge-seeking.