As you look around outside, you see the direct result of people losing blind hope that "somebody will do something".

“It was hope. It was the little voice inside that said: This isn’t really happening. It was the voice that drove people to turn out the same pocket three times in a fruitless search for lost keys. It was mad belief that the world is bound to start working properly again if I truly believe, and there will be keys. It was the voice that said “This can’t be happening” very loudly, in order to drown out the creeping dread that it was. He had about thirty seconds, while hope lasted.”

"Give them a pitchthfork and they think they own the bloody plaithe." -Igor,

"My late husband used to say, "The only way to make money from poor people is by keeping them poor." -Mrs Lavish

-Making Money by Terry Pratchett.