Here in the US, our downfall comes from something called 'Crony Capitalism'. Does that mean our only alternative is a time-tested ethos proven to end in death, despair and starvation?
Quite the contrary, but let's draw premature conclusions because we're intellectually lazy. You should be a seasonal painter, those broad strokes cover a lot of surface area.
This is why revisionist history sucks ass. We can't learn from past mistakes and fight over failed systems to our detrmint. Coke or Pepsi? Both will make you fat and rot your teeth ...