Everything that the people despise about this patriarchal, not enough to go around, emotionless economic nightmare we call society has been put in place by us to serve our needs. Sure the world has enough natural resources for everyone to live comfortably. Sure our technology is capable of supporting all of humanity without requiring some of our children to go to sleep hungry. Sure we could all live like kings. But if we allowed that to happen, the people would be too independent.
Independent people think for themselves.
The film industry in particular is ripe with examples of collective mind control. It has been argued that these mass entertainment devices have been carefully sculpted to generate a positive response to the possibility of other-worldly visitors. Hurt's role walks a razor's edge between benevolence and maniacalism. These questions, left purposefully unresolved, help make Contact a delightful piece of propaganda. The people who control mass media control public opinion.