I've come to similar conclusions, la-ex. But mainly by following the financial trail. If you have any mega rich friends or acquaintances, you will know that for the most part, they have an incredible set of expectations and subjectivity, and very little appreciation of what they can do for others.

This made me think that to find out who is pulling the strings, cherchez la money. So who of those honchos is rolling in the stuff? Believe me that is where the power would lie.