I wonder if the degree to which the wealthy arrange to skew the system in their favor depends in part on how close you get to social collapse.

There is a relationship, but I think it is the reverse. The wealthy have to be protected from their basest instincts which are to skew the system so strongly to their interests that it is forced into collapse. They collectively seem incapable of accepting this, though many wealthy individuals do understand the relationship. The only satisfaction that gives is that those who understand the situation are better positioned to benefit from the collapse than those who deny the possibility or project the causes onto others.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."