That’s not the only explanation. Our current era is dominated by a complete lack of political imagination, probably because most of the ruling class benefits from how things are (I guess that’s true by definition). And some of them can benefit even more if they redirect all the blame on an outgroup. It’s not stupidity when they are doing what is in their personal best interest and it’s not cruelty because Im not sure they think in the slightest about those they are hurting.