I think the the plot is this:

1. The masses are super stupid and are relatively easy to manipulate and outright control when pushed
2. The masses are low-class but, by-and-large, middle class. These people have been duped for so long by a myriad number of triggers for so long but, essentially, they hate anyone smarter than them.
3. This hate WILL be used to kill the actually intelligent people who are dangerous to the institutions pulling this culling of the inteligentsia off.
4. The khemer rouge never ended.