And bleak because there doesn't seem to be an alternative where the people making these decisions are responsible to an electorate or public in some democratic fashion. Just a bunch of people with $$ and influence who set themselves up to be arbiters ... and
It's just might makes right.
And bleak because in this case the "mighty" are often the very people who made fun of arts students who took the philosophy and ethics classes in school that could at least offer some insight in these issues.