I've begun to wonder whether short-term economic depression in '08 and maybe '20 would have been preferable to the slow march to endemic corruption and aristocr

I've begun to wonder whether short-term economic depression in '08 and maybe '20 would have been preferable to the slow march to endemic corruption and aristocracy that the US is on. If the trend continues one would eventually expect long-term disruption to the US's ability to maintain cohesion.