I caught on to the illigitimacy of "the system" at around age 30, when I started studying social contract theory in a feeble attempt to validate my Statist world view-- instead, I learned that (and struggled with at first) the whole notion and its incredible assumptions were ludicrously nonsensical.

It never ceases to be incredible to me when I talk to people in their 50s or 60s who still haven't figured it out! Talk about living in the matrix.

Remember: the tax cattle were allowed to vote in the Soviet Union. It doesn't matter whether you have a Fascist dictatorship, Communism, or a "Republic"-- the tax cattle / tax farmer relationship is the core civilization driver. And it is illegitimate and immoral, on the grounds that it fundamentally violates the cattle's-- sovereign individuals'-- intrinsic natural rights.