To the best of my knowledge, the USGA doesn't have an ability to tax the golfing population or make participation in its events compulsory. As one of the contributors to this thread noted, he didn't approve of the way the USGA was conducting part of its business so he discontinued his support. Fair enough.
If Rome is indeed burning, it is for reasons the USGA has little recourse unless we want it to become more politically active. We can talk about "eco sustainability" and urban outreach till the cows come home, but without a growing economy and wealth generation, it is little better than putting a Band-Aid on a slit throat. Should it wish to espouse policies which truly put water on the fire, with a relative pittance of $300 Million in the bank, the recent JP Morgan $13 Billion shakedown by Justice might suggest that it get a much bigger boat.
Whether we like it or not, we're going down the path of all previous large, diverse social democracies. A game for individuals requiring large tracts of land, water, and a bunch of carbon-rich energy cannot do well in a collectivist society. The USGA probably has a pretty good sense of where things are heading and it is likely doing what it can to preserve itself and what will be left of golf. It is not like we don't have good examples in Western Europe to inform us. I hope that it can stave off the demands of the rent seekers and use its funds in ways that might make a small difference (e.g. current water sustainability/F&F, speed of play, support of First Tee, rules, tournaments, etc.) for what remains.