Why is it so difficult to get in to a PhD program !

I can write endlessly about my efforts to get in to a PhD program of my choice. I just find it ridiculously unintelligent that I have been screaming about my academic interests, my emotional and mental stamina to pursue the degree, my deep desire to get a doctorate, and most importantly that it has been a long cherished passion.
The US economy has done nothing good to boost my ambitions either. Most individuals in the job market, find the pursuing of a doctorate to be the most lucrative thing to do when one is unemployed. I pity these individuals because they just do not seem to understand what they are in for, and that this will be the most tortorus thing they could do to themselves for the rest of their lives. Apart from being angry with them for screwing genuine students like me, I shudder at the thought of these kinds of prospective academians who can do nothing to better for them selves or for the students. - sad to see such prospective academicians prowl the world of academia just because it is the only best thing to do.
The worst thing about my field is that it is business - where every other guy who knows a little bit of math and English (regardless of their educaitonal background), feels free to pursue a doctorate when they are actually not able to understand the very basics, or even write two sentences in English properly. Why do engineers get in to finance and marketing? - because they have failed in their fields already, or they think they can hoodwink and still shine in this arena. I am really apprehensive about these kind of guys getting their doctorates and teaching students in business schools - the corporate world will be a good fit for them I guess.
I don't blame the schools because it will be extremely difficult to gauge an applicants real interest just by looking at test scores or explicitly (hypocritically) stated research interests of these opportunistic fake prospective academicians.
I hope in all honesty that the academic world is spared from these Machiavellian tactics that have so seriously plagued our corporate world. They should try their craftiness in other areas and leave the world of academia to the really intelligent, honest, passionate, and earnest prospective academicians.