In 1984 and Brave New World, we saw extremely effective authoritarian governments of different sorts.
While of course elements of those books exist in our structures today, there is one key difference: Western governments, and western elite, are now incompetent. They have inherited a once meritocratic, productive system, and turned it into precisely the opposite.
Despite this, the authoritarian impulses of these fools are increasing. In the U.S. the power of the federal government has correlated precisely with its decreasing competence. Garbage public schools, useless regulations, terrible laws which every citizen violates 5+ of which every day, leading to the dysfunctional anarcho-tyranny which we now live in.
Does anyone know any books or media which actually got this right? I'm guessing maybe cyberpunk/corporatist dystopias?
You misunderstand their goals. They want you to serve as dumb cattle. In this end, they are governing and educating you and your offspring perfectly.
Do you think their children learn the same things your children do? Do you think they are in the same social circles? Do you think they spend their free time in similar ways? You know nothing.
I did all my schooling alongside the children of media moguls, politicians, and other elites in the gifted classes. It was an extremely retarding experience.
You have any interesting stories/examples about that?