... and it seems that they will be able to forestall any fundamental shifts in the social structure.

Go back a year ago.  Look at the blogs, look at the MSM.  What was the status of the "Financial Crisis" then?  Not to make light of it but, The Fun Has Just Begun.  This little toboggan ride has only begun and is only BEGINNING to take up steam.  Do just a LINEAR extrapolation (God knows where you go with an exponential one) to a year, even 6 months from now.

What do you see?  Absolutely no fundamental shifts?

Let's watch.

They tried to assimilate me. They failed.