The people (TPOTB) in my interpretation and study are also being manipulated. I see them as sheep dogs but they too answer to a master. It really gets into a a long historical account to see this pattern unfold.
In consciousness there is infinite potential. Trouble is most people have massive filters installed so they are not able to tap it.
In short its a feeding frenzy...until its not (depending on clarity and losing influences).
Look around and tell me this is not a world predicated on suffering and that that suffering is being stoked and stimulated? Therein lies a very valuable clue beyond the dogmas. Just a simple taking of the pulse of this particular reality at this "'time" and we get an important clue.