Far-right parties are winning in Europe because the European Central Bank forces countries to adopt ‘austerity’ policies. These policies destroy jobs and reduce people’s quality of life. So people vote for whoever promises to fix this - either the left or the far-right. But the ECB can’t permit an anti-austerity government, so they crack down on the left. The far-right is tolerated as long as it only targets random Syrian refugees.

Exactly.

They are trying to get greater control over the US economy / resources / society. Such an oligarchy is inefficient, so the US will get outcompeted by China. But that is a price they are willing to pay, as long as they benefit personally.

Put another way, the cake will become smaller, but they’ll get a bigger slice of it.

What is best for the public is not necessarily what is best for the ruling class.

Powerful people being self-centred and out of touch is a tale as old as time. I’m sure Oda saw plenty of examples growing up.

That, and France also has an economy.

They have nukes.