There is indeed a vast right-wing conspiracy at work. But most Americans do not know how it crept up on us so successfully and has almost completely taken over America, regardless of who is in the White House. It began in the 1950s, and one of the motivating factors was the old Hamiltonian idea that was adopted by the Reaganites; that the wealthiest few who profess to be patriotic Christians deserve to rule in a "Meritocracy"; that the rich are blessed by God, and that working poor and the poor deserve their lot.