That looks like an interesting dynamic. Mainline back to feudalism.

My big idea is that when we do get that reality check from hell, it will provide opportunities, but not just for the kleptocracy and/or their thugs.

The fact is our entire culture has quite a few cobwebs in the collective attic, many of them woven by previous powers of authority. Consequently no one, not even those in charge, understand how the rules and dictates have come to be. So if it reaches the point that some critical mass of people could be convinced to explore these constructs and conventions, it would seriously undermine the current, increasingly tottering system and move to positively reset the dynamic, rather then just letting it descend a lot further into the maelstrom.

It you have the time, here are two of my more recent efforts to explore the possibilities;

https://medium.com/@johnbrodixmerrymanjr/staring-into-the-abyss-384c5781e3d

https://medium.com/@johnbrodixmerrymanjr/the-cliffs-edge-2b382ae2a73