civilization collapse

tainter says civilizations collapse becuse their problems solving solutions eventually fail to solve problems but what he doesn't say is why my hypothesis is that elites fail to solve to the problem. sumerian elites were aware of the problems mayan elites were aware of the problems roman elites were aware of the problems spanish elites were aware of the problems british elites were aware of the problems french elites on hispaniola were aware of the problems cuban elites were aware of the problems russian royal elites were aware of the problems USSR elites were aware of the problems US bank elites were aware of the problems Enron elites were aware of the problems you can't imagine they were stupid or blind or unaware so why did the elites not solve the problems? personal benefit behaviors that that had established their wealth and position as elites were the problem a tipping point had been passed private profit public peril elite exist to exploit the commons as parasites it is