when i first read this, my thought was: did kay mean "decompensation" as in a business man who has lost his meal ticket?  that would have been remarkably crass, though in this case, it would also be a brilliant freudian slip. 

i was wrong and that was made clear to me here.  i still think that "destruction" would be more appropriate on many levels.  also in the running are demolition, devastation, dissolution, disaster, downfall, debacle, disintegration, decay, and diminution.

-sg