The reality is that the collapse of Image caused by the corruption of it, brings forth a dark age. It is not bad, it is just a stage of progress. We must accept it and realize that it isn't safe for anyone to have our elders leading the way.
The more of age our rulers, the more fearful our world will be. Because old people fear death, fear disease, fear danger, fear instability, therefore the most empowered systems will be hospitals, pharmacies, military, surveillance. The young population will be fed, given free toys and put to sleep. There is no blame to it, just people following their nature while handling power.
Like Terrence McKenna used to say, the bad news and the good news is that nobody is in control because nobody is ahead of Time. What you see are just loops. And every loop is just spiraling down movement.