The controlled opposition has to be able to build momentum, or it doesn't work.

The whole point of tricking people in to thinking we have democracy is to make it extremely close, so they feel like they almost had it. That's enough to placate people for another 4 years.

If things were too corrupt too early, then people might have time to revolt in meaningful ways. It has to be a surprise on the day of election, always something like 51% to 49%. So close! Every time.

This is why shitty fake democracies will have elections where one guy wins like 99% of the vote. Obviously rigged voting. This creates revolt pressure. Smart fake democracies have the guy winning 50.1% of the vote. Then it seems like the people almost had the chance at having control, when they really didn't.

It's like bull fighting and waving the red cloth. We are the bull, and the military-industrial-banking complex is waving the red cloth of politics in our faces. We keep falling for it, thinking we're addressing something substantial, but in the end there is only a facade of importance that captures our focus and fury, while those in power continue their activities unabated.