I remember a time when these things were relegated to pulp science fiction, power hungry, moustache twirling villains.

I would say I was thankful of the ruling class becoming to transparently evil, because at least we have something obvious to point to and open people's eyes. But they've really got society by the balls, the only reason they're being so obvious is because they know they can get away with it.

George Carlin was right when he said "nobody seems to notice, nobody seems to care"