A parallel point:

Corporations do not act directly, they always act through their officers, directors, and misc employees. Yet it is perfectly coherent to say "Papa John's Pizza, Inc. negligently hit my car." Every knows that means something like "A Papa John's delivery driver drove negligently and hit my car."

In short, the usage you complain of is isomorphic to "Powerful members of past society have been unwilling or unable to take the necessary steps to prevent human suffering." Pretending you misunderstood me is logically rude.