@cstross The status quo cannot hold.
No one in a position of power ever expresses an alternative; they are, instead, absolutely committed to maintaining the status quo by any means, up to and including committed genocide on themselves, never mind (generic) you.
There is no law but power, and power wants everyone to die because god won't love them enough.
And since we all need the big machine of society and exchange to run in order to live, it's easy for everyone to die. People have noticed.