I think the problem here is not "incompetence." I think that this is a domestic parallel to the Reaganite foreign policy of "plausible deniability" in which the policies desired by the President (or other senior officials) are carried out, but in ways which cannot be tracked back directly to the decision-maker.

So, in this case, you make sure that there is no direct and accountable tracking of what the Treasury and Federal Reserve do regarding providing money and financing to the banks & investment houses, and this prevents any holding of accountability to officials because no one can say with any specificity what, officially, was even done.

The right generally has a utilitarian view of the importance of "Western Culture" and "Western Values".

They are incredibly important, but only when they are useful to disparage a perceived "other" or "enemy" culture or group.

The right will then turn and quickly despise said Western culture and Western values if you propose that we actually adhere to them.

Say, for example, "Western rationality". This is especially useful when discussing things about how you have to be extra brutal to Arab and Muslim nations, given that they don't possess "Western rationality".

However, "Western rationality" proves much less helpful to the right when you're insisting that they have to prove their charges and allegations openly, without recourse to supposedly secret evidence that some trusted government official says he possesses.

Then, suddenly, it's all about "faith" in government, and how we have to make leaps and stop thinking so damn much.