Ever since the influence of media became so obtrusive and all encompassing, people have become more and more submissive to their current situation. If western society really is collapsing, it is due to the fact the those in power lack the responsibility to further shape, enhance and enrich our lives, while we as people lack the responsibility of telling those in power what we do and do not want to see or read or hear. If just a handful of successful corporations changed their agendas from "profit" to "cultural enrichment" or "promoting humanity for the next 10,000 years", meaning something global, that the people can relate too on more than a "I have to buy this!" level, I think the differences would speak for themselves.