How Would a System Breakdown Happen?

[Pottslande]

I'm planning on writing a story based on a world after a sort of apocalyptic system breakdown of the government, turning the United States into anarchy. I wanted to find a way to extrapolate from the current state of the world in order to achieve this condition, using economic and political forces as well as current issues (but especially economic).

So, I would like your opinions. How do you think a breakdown of our current system would happen?

[Conserative Morality]

It would be extremely difficult for a US breakdown to happen. We have a great deal of unity in culture, government stability, multiple levels of government each with the ability to more or less run on it's own, etc.

I'm not saying it'd be impossible... But it'd be damn difficult.

[Wikkiwallana]

Well, first the shit would hit the fan, which would cause things to start tipping over like dominoes, leading to the collapse of the house of cards.

[Jagalonia]

All one would really have to do it knock out satalites...? I remember seeing something somewhere about how that would fuck the entire USA....

[Norstal]

When one of NSG anarchists gets a hold of gunpowder.

[Wikkiwallana]

All one would really have to do it knock out satalites...? I remember seeing something somewhere about how that would fuck the entire USA....

There's a zillion of them, and they are way the hell up there. No mean feat.

[Conserative Morality]

When one of NSG anarchists gets a hold of gunpowder.

The gunpowder treason part two?

[The Matthew Islands]

So, I would like your opinions. How do you think a breakdown of our current system would happen?

Downgrading of US economy leads to mass panic on stock markets.
World enters into another recession.
Obama wins 2012 election.
US citizens cut back on spending leading to downfall in imports from China.
PIIGS collapse and push Germany into demanding more control by EU over nations economies.
EU extends influence over member economies.
Germany forced to bail out PIIGS.
Developed nations shun Chinese goods.
Chinese economy start stagnating.
Mass unemployment in US as rating is downgraded following Obama's mass spending and borrowing.
Riots in Europe following new EU regulations on austerity measures.
Unemployment in China and India rises as developed markets reject imports.

Something like that? Probably wrong on most things...

[Norstal]

When one of NSG anarchists gets a hold of gunpowder.

The gunpowder treason part two?

Gunpowder Plot: America.

Meryuma: "Well, I just hope these hyperboles don't...

*puts on sunglasses*

blow out of proportions."

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Lackadaisical2]

The gunpowder treason part two?

Gunpowder Plot: America.

Meryuma: "Well, I just hope these hyperboles don't...

*puts on sunglasses*

blow out of proportions."

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

If I didn't already have you in my sig twice, I might consider this.

Anyway, I tend to agree with CM on this issue, its a long road to system breakdown for the US.

[Chyeknovostan Republic]

If Rome,Greece and other past civilizations can collapse than the US can collapse. Just takes the right blow in the right area to make the house of cards tumble.

[Lackadaisical2]

If Rome,Greece and other past civilizations can collapse than the US can collapse. Just takes the right blow in the right area to make the house of cards tumble.

It also took what? Hundreds of years of decline for Rome?

(Thats not counting the Byzantines as Romans)

[Conserative Morality]

Gunpowder Plot: America.

Meryuma: "Well, I just hope these hyperboles don't...

*puts on sunglasses*

blow out of proportions."

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

That pun was terrible, all build up and no delivery. I'd say it was a real flash in the pan.

[The Corparation]

Southern States don't put Obama on Ballot, he gets elected. Southerner mad kills him. Northerners lynch him. SOuth breaks of into jesusland.

[Conserative Morality]

If Rome,Greece and other past civilizations can collapse than the US can collapse. Just takes the right blow in the right area to make the house of cards tumble.

Rome was not built in a day, and it did not fall in day.

[The Matthew Islands]

If Rome,Greece and other past civilizations can collapse than the US can collapse. Just takes the right blow in the right area to make the house of cards tumble.

It also took what? Hundreds of years of decline for Rome?

The final blow was quite quick though. The failure of the Romans to properly adapt cavalry to their armies, and the reliance on barbarians brought it down quite quick.

[Wikkiwallana]

If Rome,Greece and other past civilizations can collapse than the US can collapse. Just takes the right blow in the right area to make the house of cards tumble.

It also took what? Hundreds of years of decline for Rome?

(Thats not counting the Byzantines as Romans)

And that took absolute ruler after absolute ruler doing just about everything they could to bring the Empire down short of intentional sabotage.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

I suspect the beginning of the end will come when an enterprising and villainous clown learns to create self-replicating nanobots that swarm across the globe, invading peoples' bodies and rewriting their genetic code on a cellular level turning them into insane mud-loving groin-kicking pie-throwing clowns like I- er.... like he is.

[Conserative Morality]

The final blow was quite quick though. The failure of the Romans to properly adapt cavalry to their armies, and the reliance on barbarians brought it down quite quick.

Was it? I suppose on the geological scale five hundred years is quite quick. One hundred would be the smallest number I'd take for the fall proper.

[Chyeknovostan Republic]

If Rome,Greece and other past civilizations can collapse than the US can collapse. Just takes the right blow in the right area to make the house of cards tumble.

It also took what? Hundreds of years of decline for Rome?

(Thats not counting the Byzantines as Romans)

Yea, Every nation at some point collapses it just depends when and why.Though,just because it collapses doesn't mean it's the end of the people. Greece is still here.

[The Matthew Islands]

The final blow was quite quick though. The failure of the Romans to properly adapt cavalry to their armies, and the reliance on barbarians brought it down quite quick.

Was it? I suppose on the geological scale five hundred years is quite quick. One hundred would be the smallest number I'd take for the fall proper.

I suppose you're right. I think I misjudged the time scale. I think I need to go read up on it again...

[Lackadaisical2]

It also took what? Hundreds of years of decline for Rome?

(Thats not counting the Byzantines as Romans)

Yea, Every nation at some point collapses it just depends when and why.Though,just because it collapses doesn't mean it's the end of the people. Greece is still here.

I was looking for something I disagree with, and its your modern notion that a nation=a state, the Greek nation survived, the various governments that they used fell- eventually nations die out(or are changed irrevocably) too, or have in the past.

Otherwise, good show, cheerio chap and all that.

[Jagalonia]

All one would really have to do it knock out satalites...? I remember seeing something somewhere about how that would fuck the entire USA....

There's a zillion of them, and they are way the hell up there. No mean feat.

All it takes is one EMP blast....Just fire a nuke into orbit, call it an "accident"

[Jagalonia]

Yea, Every nation at some point collapses it just depends when and why.Though,just because it collapses doesn't mean it's the end of the people. Greece is still here.

I was looking for something I disagree with, and its your modern notion that a nation=a state, the Greek nation survived, the various governments that they used fell- eventually nations die out(or are changed irrevocably) too, or have in the past.

Otherwise, good show, cheerio chap and all that.

Lacky...You're drunk....You're making sense. Keep posting.

[Lackadaisical2]

I was looking for something I disagree with, and its your modern notion that a nation=a state, the Greek nation survived, the various governments that they used fell- eventually nations die out(or are changed irrevocably) too, or have in the past.

Otherwise, good show, cheerio chap and all that.

Lacky...You're drunk....You're making sense. Keep posting.

Hehe. I was just about to leave before I get into any trouble.