Unfortunately and I do mean this, you are very correct. Society has a lot of warts, but it's a personal choice to focus on the bad things alone or not.
The ass kissing you speak of annoys me as well, but I'm cognisant of the fact that I've always seen it, always. It just had different flavors growing up. An employee sucking up to a boss, a kid sucking up to his parents. It's a natural way for us to gain leverage.
The only thing one can aim to do, and it's honestly my goal is to reinforce the good things society does have. Not the elimination of the bad ones, because I think that quest is futile.
But once again... unfortunately you are correct.
It's the way the world works... we suck each other off to grow xD i should frame this and put it up on a wall or something, maybe spray paint it on the house of parliament ahahha