People much smarter than me seem to think an implosion of the radical ledt is coming because it is unstable. That a lot of this is going to crumble. It may make it another winter if they can induce enough fear in the population.

But I think your thoughts hold some water. Empires collapse because they are unsustainable because you have to keep bribing protectors and the producers can't carry the weight. See Rome. Note, I'm no historian and I'm not saying they're the same, but the concept applies.

As El Gato has pointed out people are already changing jerseys on lockdowns. Injection jersey changing will be interesting. As with anything some never will admit because admitting you were conned and also spread the con has high social costs.