As long as the economic system is based upon capitalism the cycles of greed and collapse will continue. It is a feature of the system.

Small gains in wealth or market position allows for predation which then makes the winning firm bigger. The bigger firm then can buy political influence which then creates the legal framework for them to grow even larger.

This feedback system continues until it implodes, when there is much hand wringing, some modest reforms and the cycle starts again.

The only way to break this cycle is to eliminate capitalism and replace it with something new. Something which is not based upon the continual striving for growth, something which is not based upon exploiting natural resources and something which is does not reward greed.

I have no idea what this new system would be, socialism and communism have also been shown to suffer from fatal flaws of their own.

What I have found is that every time I bring this up I get blasted by libertarians who can't see beyond their cramped views of personal liberty and dislike of "government".

My most recent rant on the subject on this site:
http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2008/8/7/124216/5548

I really would like to hear some ideas on what new social structures might look like, but it seems it is easier to tear down ideas than come up with new ones...

Policies not Politics
---- Daily Landscape