Sacrifice!

In the old days when people wanted something they made a sacrifice and hoped for the best.  Even if the hoped for outcome did not materialize, perhaps especially if it did not materialize, killing something was cathartic.

That form of release is frowned upon today.

If an administration wants to appear benevolent they allow the people to create groups to speak for the masses.  That group sacrifices one of its members by making him the head of the group and he becomes their whipping boy.

The administration doesn't have to budge and the group expends all their energy on in-fighting with one common focal point -- their chairperson.  If they can't budge the people who count, they badger the ones with no power.

There is no real catharsis in this kind of behavior.  It is totally unsatisfying for everyone -- except the administration who is spared having to deal with an older experienced person who knows better than to become involved in these things.

That's just the way things are and depending on where you stand; it works.