I can't agree that "we" have created a corrupt system. It is "they" who are/were in a position to corrupt and be corrupted that has skewed the system in their favor.
Sh*t always runs downhill and now even the low level bureaucrats feel they have the right to do as they see and not as they should. The very oath to "serve" has been corrupted to a personal oath to "serve themselves".
This may be seen as a pessimistic view of the way things are but, imho, it doesn't change the reality that this tendency towards self service is the root of most of the problems in this world.
We elect the system. Politicians represent the average perception and serve the average wish. This is how and why they get elected.