the appearance of a coordinated managed decline is a consequence of the fact that a predatory state under these conditions will possess a declining economy, which the predators will then attempt to manage.

But the predators each have first allegiance to their own interest, second, to the common interests of all who are in the position to be predators. Some may even put the interests of the overall society and ecology above the interests of other predators, if my simile of them being, in effect, a cabal of pirates has validity. This means, with appropriate leadership, many could be turned against each other, just as they have, for so long, turned various segments of society lower on the money pole against one another.  

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."