They have tremendous influence, otherwise we wouldn't even be talking about them. The "you will own nothing and be happy" meme is one of the greatest examples of "spell casting" in modern history. I think you are the one who doesn't understand these people. They are the wizards, but you don't even believe the wizards exist. They must seem like mere clowns to you. The real difference here is you see things from a very reductively practical and modern point of view, while I absolutely do not.
It is absurd, and it's never going to happen, but they believe it will. They really do. And they'll burn the world to the ground trying to get there.