I've got about 14 things to say about the current situation, but I won't. No time, and I doubt if it's wise; I'll think about it and maybe edit this post later.
One thing, though: it's hard to win a cultural victory. It's one of the bloodiest ways to win a game of Civ and there's nothing particularly refined or elevated - cultural - about it. In my own games I haven't won a cultural victory for over a year now because every time I set out to do so, I reach this point. It's so easy to find excuses to win by domination. Winning a cultural victory, and doing it well, is more a test of character than skill. Clearly in my own games my character may be found wanting.
We are Fanatannians all, and here to serve the greater good of all of Fanatannia. This requires game decisions that may personally irk us, and are even out of character with our ideals. However, Democracy is untidy, and that's what we've chosen to play. Life isn't neat; why should be expect our game to be so?