A healthy society demands integrity. It's the glue that holds evil at bay, and allows honest discourse on important matters. Without it, politics are based completely on lies, character assassination is acceptable, and the destruction of the economy for personal gain becomes the goal of those with opportunities. Thievery with the backing of ill-conceived laws is prevalent, devalued money allows the entire nation to be robbed, and those that complain are ridiculed by the press that stays in the back pocket of evil opportunists.
If this downward spiral continues, the grossly ignorant will eventually find they are nothing more than slaves to those wish to control them. Those drunk on power become completely isolated, and numb to the plight of those they turn into pawns for their evil goals. Life becomes hard for those that want their freedom, and liberty becomes only a dream.