Those few persons and corporations (include religious corporations) hoarding money have orchestrated the upward flow of money and the downward push. They have had coordinated help from legislators and regulators and the executive. All have known the end game since the 1970's.
I have written about republicans deliberately trashing the economy with hope that Obama will go out with the trash. I must remind myself that all involved are trashing only the lower parts of the economy and selectively. To shorten my reading, they are trashing what they do not already control.
One example of selective trashing is the entrepreneurial and SME sectors where new jobs would be created; jobs not already under control Another example is resisting any WPA type jobs that government could create in a wide variety of sectors; living wage jobs controlled by the government; not within easy reach of money hoarders. The WPA type jobs would loosen up some lending that entrepreneurs and SME's could use to create even more jobs.
The money hoarding, virtual controllers of the economy and their intra-government coops are treading a fine, macroeconomic line; but they could pull off something never yet accomplished. They could actually retain all of their wealth while holding the lower economy in dire, grueling straights but at a sustainable level of subsistence. Perhaps, then, so many more people would fall prey to corporate religion that a "christian nation" would be managed from inside the government. Religions have been placing their adherents in every elected, appointed and hired position of government at every level of government for many years; adherents trained up in religious schools, colleges, universities and online programs.
The money hoarding persons and corporations (religious and commercial), with their wealthy and hired coops in government might need just a bit more time and little else.
Read Robert's article here