The peasants never win.
Those people who are corrupt, own and control everything.
And they will lie, cheat, steal, and murder to keep it that way.
By not being willing to be like them, good people are trying to fight with one hand tied behind their back.
Protests don't work. Like you said, they just laugh at the peasants.
The only way to fight is to resist. That throws monkey wrenches into their plans.
And pray. Because Divine Intervention is what they cannot control.