The US has been in a cycle of financial corruption and malinvestment that has led to a series of bubbles, busts, and crashes since at least 1995, and more likely since Alan Greenspan became the Fed Chairman. 

The cycle is the same, only the frequency and duration changes.

It is a machine for transferring income, wealth, and ownership to the very top.

How long can this type of top down policy mismanagement and abuse of public trust continue?

Down to the last remnants of the real economy, and the last remaining member of the middle class.