I think you're resting on a very strict interpretation of 'the US fed' for any of these to be true. Power in our nation isn't highly centralized, it is a network of entrenched players - mostly corporations but also federal bodies. The US power structure arguably does all of these things both historically and currently.

(with "own being used in the pwned sense - the ability to influence action absolutely)

As one should. Cisco or facebook can't put me in jail. Maybe they can throw money around to push the needle on laws, but the will of a middle manager will never be what persecutes me. This is not a small distinction.