I think society as it stands today must fail in order for a new one to take its place, yes. There are too many people afraid of change, who will suffer through depression just because of the familiar atmosphere.
This thread reminds me exactly of the video Wyote posted - the second zeitgeist movie - that it must be shown to the people that aspects of our society and culture as a whole does not work for the future that lies ahead.
Money, first and foremost, needs to be eliminated. All of our troubles seems to stem from this single means of slavery. We can't even think about having food, medical care, or other living necessities without worrying about how much money it costs. Which is a very sad thing, because if we even plan on advancing as a civilization, we must establish a system that exceeds these barriers.
Basic living essentials should be automatically provided to all those who walk this earth regardless of where you live. Our primitive class structure needs to be eliminated if we wish to truly work as one. Believe it or not, we're coming to a point in our technology to where we going to be able to inhabit near by planets and so forth.
How do we expect to survive, if we can't even get along with each other? I'll tell you one thing, we'll either have to leave this planet with the mindset of domination and destroying , or we'll leave with the mindset of co-existing and replenishing. I would personally appreciate the ladder of the two.
The way we live now will not be tolerated throughout the universe. ESPECIALLY if there are other beings out there that are thousands of years our elder... they'll be knocking us off our high horse real quick if we go stomping around with our attitude.
Our whole mindset must change, as a world, not just as a nation. That is, unless one nation takes claim over the world. Either way, we all have live our lives with the intention of peace and positive progression in order to survive.
Its sad I have to say, that most people just won't accept it. Only when something disastrous happen, do people really see it in themselves to change for the better. But for this magnitude of change, something must equally be destroyed...
I really hope people won't let it have to come to that...