That's a myth. There have always been opportunities here, but the masses have never had control of the country. It's always been a small faction or "shadow government" that has been in control... from day one!
We The People were able to somewhat effect change personally and on a local level, and very rarely on a national level. But for the most part a few have ran the national and international agenda.
Those few are also part of a global cartel of power mongers whom have ran the international scene for centuries, if not millenniums.
*The events taking place now have happened over and over throughout history... America is not "special" in the eyes of history, only the latest in line.