Societies as a collection of all individuals matter more than individual individuals.That's why Japan is the way Japan is and India the way India is.

>Additionally, based on what's going on in the world, I would say that there are very clear signs that a high-trust society is formed when adults with positive behaviors are in power, and a low-trust society is formed when adults with negative behaviors gain power.

Every society on the planet from Japan to North America has its own robber barons that are above the law, the difference is in Taiwan, Japan or Singapore I'm not afraid of getting mugged, broken into or sexually assaulted on the streets at night, or having my bike stolen, and people queue politely and orderly for riding the bus.

And in democracies, the behavior of those elected into power is a direct reflection of that society and its population. Trump didn't make America like that, American people made America's leader be like that. Trump is a reflection of your society that's why he got into power, because people see themselves in him.

Don't blame your leader for how your society looks, blame your society for your leader looks.