collapse of the old society

I think you've hit the nail on the head. No one knows what to do about it or they know they can't stop what's already been done, so why bother even trying to change. This is what got humans here in the first place, we pretend we know answers when we don't, or at least say some paltry offering as making a difference. We can adapt to the changes that are coming, but it means reinventing our entire way of life, and the people at the top of the pile don't t want to upset the system where they are at the top of the pile. Change has to come from the people, forcing the change. Our leaders have proven themselves incapable of breaking from the shackles of the old so we won't make it to the new way unless we make it happen. We can't leave it to others anymore, we have to do it.