Your premise sort of resembles the plot of Ayn Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged, but she thought the people who made the world work were all CEOs and captains of industry so she made them all heroes. Because of numerous socialistic policies by the government they all go on strike and withhold their “genius” from the world until it falls apart.

So, like if the mythological Atlas (who supports and holds up the world) shrugged his responsibility and walked away from the world, the world falls.

Obviously, as we all witnessed during the COVID pandemic some of the lowest paid people in society are actually the essential workers. So, Rand had it wrong…but her idea of going on a strike to watch the world fall apart is right, it’s just that she selected the wrong group of people.

Shovel 14 tons what do ya get?

It’s 16 tons but we all knew what you meant. I agree.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteen_Tons