BBS, that's a very dark vision of things. You need a {{{hug}}} I think. Some of my family heirlooms and keepsakes are in very good hands. Money was involved, yes, but my father's photo enlarger went to a 20 year old woman who remembered her grandfather's enlarger and nearly cried when she realized she could afford to replace it in her life. A young man appeared at my door eager to buy volumes of classical piano music from 1909. A Spanish lady has one of my grandmothers' teacups, English bone china and missing a saucer, but beautiful. There is a "collectable" market that's purely fashion and money-oriented, but there are people out there looking for things that are interesting, beautiful, well-made, honest, American...the list is extensive. Most have seen Walmart and are looking for something better.
Money and value are becoming totally disconnected. I have children that travel miles to be sure that their trash is recycled. They cherish different things than I do or than I expected (who would predict that they'd fight about inheriting the sewing machine?) There are studios producing glass, pottery, furniture, and other beautiful things that will be the treasures 50 years from now. And, perhaps, "grandma's teacup" - not my grandmother, but the head of a Spanish family, who cherished a yard sale find. History can be messy that way.

As for the Church, big business, big government - dispicable things happen in the name of these things, and there isn't a lot I can do about it. I can support local churches (a purely Protestant ethic, I know, but perhaps it's time for that again), local action groups, local farms, and local PEOPLE, individually, that are actually making sensible decisions. And I have hope they'll make and play the music I want to hear.