Grant you, 'elites' should have been in quotes—and I wasn't referring to populist stuff but rather to those who are sufficiently powerful enough to launch influ

Grant you, 'elites' should have been in quotes—and I wasn't referring to populist stuff but rather to those who are sufficiently powerful enough to launch influential memes that become part of the dominant discourse whether their effects are beneficial for society or not—society doesn't have effective filters against such discourses. Also, look at the facts, commoners have had precious little say yet the slide downwards has occurred anyway.