have to wonder if it's by design, a happy coincidence, or a bit of both
Discussion
Has to be by design.
The fiat empire needs a steady stream of emergencies and scapegoats to distract from the root problem of modern civilization: theft via $ printing.
Emergencies have always been used to justify the implementation of policies and to cover mistakes. I think we are so far down the death spiral, that they have to do it so often now, that it becomes so obvious to even the most casual observer.