The problem in the US is that there's a huge chunk of the population that believes the chief thing the government can give them is vengeance against their uppit

The problem in the US is that there's a huge chunk of the population that believes the chief thing the government can give them is vengeance against their uppity neighbors. Where this movement is ascendant, the government does little more than deal out humiliation to those out of power. Those who control the movement are free to loot the governmental power left unused. I agree that there's little dignity in it. This is ameliorated by federalism. If you don't want to live in crazytown, you can pull up roots and move to another state with a government that actually tries to identify and solve real problems. I think the same dynamic plays out everywhere on Earth in different forms. In some places the folks seeking to avenge their honor, and the false friends stoking their grievances, are fewer, but there are some everywhere.