This

Drugs is a helluva drug.

Yep!

. . . Well that and the oil industry.

what would be needed to change the status quo.

One of the following:

• widespread media literacy
• competent understanding of technology
• a gun

I’ve recently accepted that the vast majority of people who use technology daily will never question or understand how it works, but will act as if it is indispensable, omniscient, and impenetrable.