Here in Latin America I see many decisions that are bad for society and bad for the planet, dictated by money. A farmer raises cattle instead of growing more healthy and less ecologically disruptive crops because it means more money for less work. A man can earn four times as much per hour in mining as in farming, so many opt for mining. A local store owner stocks his shelves with products from Coca-Cola and Nestle instead of locally produced goods because the giant corporations accept payment after sales, and the owner typically cannot pay up front. There are so many motorcycle taxis on the streets, burning fuel just trolling for passengers, because this is such an easy way to make money.
It seems that the powers that be may encourage two things: having kids and entertainment. They know that people who are trying to provide for their family will be more enslaved to the system. They will be more concerned about their kids immediate needs than about politics or more sustainable living. And so they ignore the consequences of their collective actions, and continue to degrade of the world their kids will inherit. Likewise, they know that people who are distracted by entertainment and focused on their own immediate pleasure will be unlikely to engage with their communities and actively challenge the dominant system.