… could divide

Any run-of-the-mill politician can ruin an economy. It’s practically written into their job description…

Divide the public over trivial issues… (check!)

Distract them from what’s really going on… (check!)

Lure them into a state of fear and/or helplessness… (check!)

Pretend to offer the only solution to problems you actually created… (check!)

Accrue power and wealth to your own elite, self-serving cabal… (double, quadruple, sextuple check!)