that's probably the same everywhere !
arrogantly doing dumb (and very dangerous) things on a large scale with great conviction

i honestly don't know. there was a time i was more idealistic about cypherpunk ideals and tech and the internet making everything better and more free, nowadays, having seen interest in privacy and such go so downhill from 2001, i'm disillusioned and just surviving

but it's probably some combination of tech that can be used to organize stealthy against a hostile government, but also important, a way to do things better in the oft chance that that succeeds, both involve systems that aren't easy to capture by one (or a bunch of) powerful groups

but is it really a tech problem or... i increasingly believe the most disheartening explanation, that this is just what people want, most have no interest in anything else 

 People don’t know what they want for the most part. A better question is, what should they want. Building it for them so it’s at least an option, educating them on why and how to drink water is all we can do. Maybe some of the horses will drink when you lead them, certainly not all. 

 no...this isn't about me, and besides, "when i'm in power i'll just wave a wand and solve everything" thinking is what got us to this point in the first place
that was kind of my point 

 If you want a better government, you'll have to make it yourself. 

 yes