Another thing that influences change reliably is a good old (threat of) violence.
What I'm saying is -- if the system degrades to a state that only responds to either money or violence, then ones with no money will eventually resort to violence. And since violence is not the most effective mediator of change, in the competitive environment it's /necessary/ to respond to stimuli other than those two mentioned just to not be outmaneuvered by opportunistic competitors for this sweet feedback signals.
Than being said, maybe I am (unknowingly) an agent of those opportunistic competitors trying to trigger exactly that failure mode.