We are on our way, problem is, the rich and the asocial are going to survive…
They think they will. History tends to paint a different picture in the actual brutal meritocracy of the collapse of an empire.
Not that it won’t be rich sociopaths on top in the end, it just tends to be a different set.
It depends on how badly the source of the collapse wants them dead. The Japanese imperial line hasn’t changed since before the Meiji restoration. The Hapsburgs are still the monarchs of Europe and one of the most wealthy and powerful families in the world. Hell, le ancien regime had to be overthrown several times before they stayed out of power.
Also there is no meritocracy in imperial collapse, there are skills that lose value and skills that gain value, but it’s not as though it’s some reset, it’s usually warlords and demagogues. It’s a time in which the cunning and brutal succeed over the honest and efficient. It’s the era of Julius Caesar not of Ramseses II.
Fair enough, usually the answer is “very” but it’s not like complete purges of ruling lines happen that often.
