When we get to that point we will more than likely have reached a point of no return anyway...
I believe we have already passed the point of no return, but there is a "culture lag" so to speak that allows most of us to think it hasn't happened, and some of us to think it is even still possible to not pass that point - that hope that man's innate optimism gives rise to regardless of the reality.
I feel that we are going to go into full police state mode (rather close to that now, but it is more covert than overt), or if not, into some sort of a Balkanization. If it is the former, which I see as more likely at this point, I have no gut feeling for how compliant and submissive the "thinking" portion of our citizenry will or will not be. That will to some degree be affected by how obvious and dramatic and clearly discernible the "point of no return" is. People talk as if they expect the worst, but deep down they just can't believe it is really going to happen. Until after it does.
So divide and conquer???
Some areas that are already under a socialistic-lite control requiring little re-education (like most urban areas of the country???), thus heavy handed zones in urban areas that are not of the “correct” political mindset the latter has???
I do not believe it will be very easy to pacify areas where it is not considered compliant enough...
It will be bloody, messy and not very newsworthy if the propagandists cannot realistically present it to the masses of the compliant to prove they are totally in the right...But I am not going to hold my breath...
I believe your term “cultural lag” is really accurate...I would say it is also a “cultural denial (lack of reality)” that will work against the Constitutional originalist like myself...Those folks are all around you, I and many others...they are your friends, co-workers, neighbors and even family members...
I believe the “cultural lag” is very similar to that which preceded the first American Civil War...Where even families were ripped apart by the differences of opinion...And that is still a very dangerous condition...