Institutions seldom get our empathy and sympathy

While individuals get our empathy and sympathy, institutions seldom do. The “we’re in this together” spirit of [science fiction] films from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s later gave way to a reflex shared by left and right, that villainy is associated with organization. Even when they aren’t portrayed as evil, bureaucrats are stupid and public officials short-sighted. Only the clever bravado of a solitary hero (or at most a small team) will make a difference in resolving the grand crisis at hand. David Brin “Our Favorite Cliche: A world filled with idiots.” 2013.