It is an unescapable conclusion of electoral dynamics : the outcome of vote is decided by a small minority of swing voters with limited cognitive ability – people with stronger intellect (like you ?) can’t be convinced easily. As such, this deciding can be manipulated by gross rethoric and mass-media marketing.

To get a successful society and economy, one needs to strongly reign on the power of directly elected representatives (confining them only to “first principles” legislating ) and nurture a “mandarin” class governed by reason (for what it means…).
In Asia and most of Continental Europe, it is provided by University Selected Bureaucrats. In totalitarian (read China) or pseudo democratic (read Japan, Korea, Singapore, etc…), the bureaucratic and legislative power are essentially the ssame thing (for better or for worse). In the Anglo-Saxon world, bureaucrats are seconded in this moderating role by a strong and independent judiciary which has a culture of its own.

A weakening of this bureaucratic / judicial moderating power in favour of populist driven power is a garanteed recipe for ultimate collapse. Putting reason back on the driver seat means acknowledging the dead-end of the “majority vote legitimacy” totem. This is a very difficult endeavour.

You’re right, the Supreme Court effectively nullified oaths of Federal office a long time ago. Now violating the constitution and betraying the best interests of the nation are de facto legal. Naturally, the government says that what the government does is legal.

Blame doesn’t really solve anything. There won’t be justice. Outrage will be misdirected. And history will repeat itself.

This is all academic.