Oligarchies run on mediocrities: “desire to revive a stalled career or obtain a minor promotion — can be enough to incentivize lower- and midlevel officials to violate professional obligations, fundamental norms and even basic morality.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/world/americas/actually-democracy-dies-in-hr.html

The GOP is all like this.

“ideal labor pool: the frustrated and mediocre.”