The US is in the midst of a constitutional crisis right now. The executive is basically ruling by fiat. The supreme court is making it up as it goes along. The congress has abdicated its responsibilities as the individual members are more concerned with enriching themselves.
The country can go into one of two different directions. It either goes back towards constitutional government or further away. Personally, I think it will move further and further away. That is not a real good direction but it is what it is.
Reluctantly, I agree with your assessment. There is a faint hope that when people have nothing left to lose, they will act like they have nothing left to lose.