“Why do we even continue to put up with this from our government agencies. It’s truly a puzzle.”
It certainly can appear puzzling, but I respectfully submit if we examine a bit further, maybe some pieces will fit together, imho.
Liberal democracy is government by the consent of and authority granted by the governed. The people agree, mostly tacitly, to rely upon majority vote on policies and representatives in government.
I feel that agreement is moral and intelligent in intent, but whether it’s moral or intelligent in practice depends upon the people. Our problems are not due to capitalism or socialism or fascism or racism or wokeness or denial of science or the infusion of religion or the greed and ignorance of elected officials.
We fight and struggle from a failure to hold to the consensus - that which is based upon mutual interests and trust, because we have forgotten that the foundation and success of our polity is working together by mutual agreement. And as Yars voiced, our growing self-absorption ethos blinds and blocks any channels to awareness of this vital consensus.
We just cannot seem to understand how truly important that is anymore. Present company excepted, of course. ?