Sure, but its hard to tell isn't it? This mob issue goes back to Plato. Even a majority can act like a 'mob' against its best interest. I just object when people start talking about 'Oh my god its 1984', 'the government is totally fascist'. When in reality, we meandered here. Decisions from 20 years ago look bad now, it doesn't mean the government now is some 'deep state conspiracy'.

For the world to turn into a surveillance state a la 1984 does not require a deep state conspiracy. It's also worth mentioning that new generations come of age and grapple with the norms of their parents, wrestling with decisions made 20 years ago now. In any case, it would be foolish to think that the governments of the world are devoid of actors who would jump at any opportunity to increase their own power or wealth.

I agree with this. I'm just saying it can be confusing, because typically the doomsayers/1984/conspiracy's are on the right, and the right professes a love of individuality and freedom. But then the 'right', turn around really want to restrict 'freedom's for people they don't like, typically along religious grounds. So yes, governments can have bad actors. But figuring out who the 'mob' is, and who gets what freedoms, and how to solve the problems of democracy are really not clear cut. And maybe my point, I think a lot of the current situation is not bad-actors so much as idiocy. Is the government really a monolithic evil, or just top heavy with bafoons sitting over a large middle management just wondering what is for lunch.