> The only 'upside' I can see, is that the system is bankrupting itself. Police states are expensive and tend to destroy themselves (the only example I can thin

> The only 'upside' I can see, is that the system is bankrupting itself. Police states are expensive and tend to destroy themselves (the only example I can think of that hasn't so far, is modern China, and that has required vast liberalization of their economy) Superb analysis! I do believe that these power structures are not only expensive but also they depend on incomes via depleting resources - like energy, oil etc. So it's kind of double trouble.