How Would a System Breakdown Happen?

[Der Teutoniker]

No shit? Gee I never knew. Who would have figured that the NATIONAL guard is a national thing.

Seriously dude... troll harder.

You are making lackluster arguments. Me refuting your horrible points isn't trolling. Crazy, I know.

[Der Teutoniker]

Yeah whatever dude.

Tell you what, why don't you actually post something constructive instead of flamebaiting me further and acting like a bigger troll then you already are?

Didn't we start out by posting constructive corrections of your fallacious statements? Then you started flaming, and now you are accusing us?

Huh.

[Paddy O Fernature]

Yeah whatever dude.

Tell you what, why don't you actually post something constructive instead of flamebaiting me further and acting like a bigger troll then you already are?

Didn't we start out by posting constructive corrections of your fallacious statements? Then you started flaming, and now you are accusing us?

Huh.

Have yet to see you post a single fucking fact to argue against my point. The only thing you are doing is attacking me at every fucking turn.

[NERVUN]

It breaks down when I call for a coffee break...

And there IS no coffee!

Edit: And all done. Sorry, had cleaning time in the middle of this.

And for the flamebait...

Go fuck yourself.

Warned for flaming. Please note that responding back to you is not flamebaiting. The person who was raising the temp was you. I suggest a break away from the keyboard, go enjoy the rest of the day or night, and we'll still be here when you get back.

Everyone else in this little bit about EMPs...

This topic is not about the effects of EMPs, the last few pages have only barely been related to the topic at hand so...

Let's return to the topic, m'k?

Thread unlocked.

[Conserative Morality]

Back to the topic, a full-out Nuclear war would probably/almost definitely do the trick, though then one has to wonder why we got into a nuclear war and, of course, whether or not it's been overdone. Maybe a localized breakdown? Like Chernobyl in the STALKER series?

[Pottslande]

Back to the topic, a full-out Nuclear war would probably/almost definitely do the trick, though then one has to wonder why we got into a nuclear war and, of course, whether or not it's been overdone. Maybe a localized breakdown? Like Chernobyl in the STALKER series?

I considered nukes for awhile, but I'd rather have this be a slightly slower, more multi factoral breakdown that affects the characters overtime before the system finally collapses.

[Conserative Morality]

I considered nukes for awhile, but I'd rather have this be a slightly slower, more multi factoral breakdown that affects the characters overtime before the system finally collapses.

How much time do you have between our current situation and the time when the story/breakdown takes place?

[Pottslande]

I considered nukes for awhile, but I'd rather have this be a slightly slower, more multi factoral breakdown that affects the characters overtime before the system finally collapses.

How much time do you have between our current situation and the time when the story/breakdown takes place?

Eh, the start of the story might take place 15 years after our current situation. The breakdown takes place 2 years after this.

But I could adjust my years for inflation

[Conserative Morality]

Eh, the start of the story might take place 15 years after our current situation. The breakdown takes place 2 years after this.

But I could adjust my years for inflation

Fifteen years could work out with a little stretching and careful use of time. Have you considered localized anarchy but with several parts of the country still under the relative control of the US government, however stretched thin so as to be unable to maintain control of the more... Affected areas? Or is it an all or nothing sort of deal? Will there be other countries involved? Peacekeepers? Or will the government remnants still be solid/stubborn enough to refuse them entrance into the country?

Just some thoughts/suggestions. I can't promise that they're any good.

[Mediterreania]

Eh, the start of the story might take place 15 years after our current situation. The breakdown takes place 2 years after this.

But I could adjust my years for inflation

Fifteen years could work out with a little stretching and careful use of time. Have you considered localized anarchy but with several parts of the country still under the relative control of the US government, however stretched thin so as to be unable to maintain control of the more... Affected areas? Or is it an all or nothing sort of deal? Will there be other countries involved? Peacekeepers? Or will the government remnants still be solid/stubborn enough to refuse them entrance into the country?

Just some thoughts/suggestions. I can't promise that they're any good.

Balkanize me, capt'n!

[Conserative Morality]

Balkanize me, capt'n!

The Grand Duchy of Maryland emerges from the ashes of the United States! Duke Baltimore III leads Maryland into a new Golden Age!

That could work... For a comedic novel.

[Mediterreania]

Balkanize me, capt'n!

The Grand Duchy of Maryland emerges from the ashes of the United States! Duke Baltimore III leads Maryland into a new Golden Age!

That could work... For a comedic novel.

I was actually referring to the TVTrope, but that's funny, too.

[Qatarab]

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.

With the fact that states have certain powers,counties have certain powers and localities have certain powers it would be hard for a US breakdown since it would require a core strike. Being a nation "By the people" it would require the very people to ensure the reign of anarchy. This requires high economic instability and oppresive near-dictatorial political stances that force the people to rise and raise havoc to break the government down. The US would need a civil war on a massive scale without any great "fixers" to dissolve. Any foreign attack would probably cause the US to unite just as the Communist and Nationalist chinese did to fight the Japanese in WW2.

[Pottslande]

Eh, the start of the story might take place 15 years after our current situation. The breakdown takes place 2 years after this.

But I could adjust my years for inflation

Fifteen years could work out with a little stretching and careful use of time. Have you considered localized anarchy but with several parts of the country still under the relative control of the US government, however stretched thin so as to be unable to maintain control of the more... Affected areas? Or is it an all or nothing sort of deal? Will there be other countries involved? Peacekeepers? Or will the government remnants still be solid/stubborn enough to refuse them entrance into the country?

Just some thoughts/suggestions. I can't promise that they're any good.

1) Not before, but now I am. Though I'd like even those parts to be broken down by the end.
2) Dunno about other countries, part of me is entertaining the idea of having those countries go under too.
3) Maybe the government would start taking a strong anti immigration stance as it internally implodes.

[Conserative Morality]

1) Not before, but now I am. Though I'd like even those parts to be broken down by the end.
2) Dunno about other countries, part of me is entertaining the idea of having those countries go under too.
3) Maybe the government would start taking a strong anti immigration stance as it internally implodes.

A well-thought out plague would probably be your best bet, with those who are immune making up most or all of the cast. It would explain the radical anti-immigration stance beyond mere xenophobia too.

[Pottslande]

1) Not before, but now I am. Though I'd like even those parts to be broken down by the end.
2) Dunno about other countries, part of me is entertaining the idea of having those countries go under too.
3) Maybe the government would start taking a strong anti immigration stance as it internally implodes.

A well-thought out plague would probably be your best bet, with those who are immune making up most or all of the cast. It would explain the radical anti-immigration stance beyond mere xenophobia too.

A previous post actually had me considering a pandemic happening in Mexico, causing mass Mexican immigration violently opposed by both racists and people believing such people contained diseases. The stoppage of all immigration would cause an internal economic implosion as bad policies bounced about, limiting the freedoms of the people to the point where the people just gave up. Not only that, but the pandemic could also manage to get in, wiping out many non immunes.

[Noavak]

Yellow Stone Natl. Park erupting would be devastating to the US.

Reasons:

1) The massive amount of volcanic ash would ground air travel for the majority of the country for months if not weeks.
2) Ash would clog up the engines of vehicles and thereby shutting down transport.
3) There would be an endemic of respiratory problems related to inhaling the ash, causing many deaths among the elderly & young and overloading the hospitals with patients.
4) With vehicles knocked out of commission communities would be facing a supply problem and be forced to ration little supplies there are. Riots and theft would be rampant across the affected areas.
5 ) With the eruption of the volcano would bring about mass hysteria, both religiously and financial. With the already weak economy the panic selling of assets would plunge the US and the world back into a deep, global depression.
6 ) The environmental impact from the ash cloud would lower temperatures globally, kill many animal populations (such as bees), and result in significantly lower food production. Fisheries as a result are fished to near extinction with the laxation of government controls.
7 ) Religious and partisan groups would begin to clash over the distribution of limited food supplies and bring about tensions among racial and religious communities.
8 ) States with higher food production become more and more secessionist as the mass of refugees and government quotas are seen as a burden to the population. With the collapse of the world economy the US Government defaults leading to dire economic problems.
9) World hunger reaches new high, leading to the US pulling out of many countries and shutting down its borders to immigrants. The resulting political and economic isolation worsens the problems within the states leading to mass calls for independence.
10 ) The states that attempt to break away from the US are seen as treasonous by the states that depend on the Union remaining in order to feed their populations. National Guard units are called up and ordered to seize the farms of these 'rebellious' states resulting in border clashes. The federal government fails to negotiate an amicable peace resulting in Civil War. The government collapses as rioting, murder, and partisan fighting breaks out across the former US.

[Conserative Morality]

A previous post actually had me considering a pandemic happening in Mexico, causing mass Mexican immigration violently opposed by both racists and people believing such people contained diseases. The stoppage of all immigration would cause an internal economic implosion as bad policies bounced about, limiting the freedoms of the people to the point where the people just gave up. Not only that, but the pandemic could also manage to get in, wiping out many non immunes.

Having one of the POV characters being unimmune, but having a strong enough immune system as to be able to draw out the course of the disease for a few months before dying with a strict diet/regimen could be an interesting view.

[Jagalonia]

Yellow Stone Natl. Park erupting would be devastating to the US.

Reasons:

1) The massive amount of volcanic ash would ground air travel for the majority of the country for months if not weeks.
2) Ash would clog up the engines of vehicles and thereby shutting down transport.
3) There would be an endemic of respiratory problems related to inhaling the ash, causing many deaths among the elderly & young and overloading the hospitals with patients.
4) With vehicles knocked out of commission communities would be facing a supply problem and be forced to ration little supplies there are. Riots and theft would be rampant across the affected areas.
5 ) With the eruption of the volcano would bring about mass hysteria, both religiously and financial. With the already weak economy the panic selling of assets would plunge the US and the world back into a deep, global depression.
6 ) The environmental impact from the ash cloud would lower temperatures globally, kill many animal populations (such as bees), and result in significantly lower food production. Fisheries as a result are fished to near extinction with the laxation of government controls.
7 ) Religious and partisan groups would begin to clash over the distribution of limited food supplies and bring about tensions among racial and religious communities.
8 ) States with higher food production become more and more secessionist as the mass of refugees and government quotas are seen as a burden to the population. With the collapse of the world economy the US Government defaults leading to dire economic problems.
9) World hunger reaches new high, leading to the US pulling out of many countries and shutting down its borders to immigrants. The resulting political and economic isolation worsens the problems within the states leading to mass calls for independence.
10 ) The states that attempt to break away from the US are seen as treasonous by the states that depend on the Union remaining in order to feed their populations. National Guard units are called up and ordered to seize the farms of these 'rebellious' states resulting in border clashes. The federal government fails to negotiate an amicable peace resulting in Civil War. The government collapses as rioting, murder, and partisan fighting breaks out across the former US.

I am impressed. Bravo.

[Dyakovo]

Because there's no way that would increase patriotism and the US would simply rebuild, amirite?

I'm pretty sure that EMP blasts not only disable all current electronics... but also all future electronics...

You would be wrong.

[Dyakovo]

You sir, have proven how little you know about EMP's. An EMP works by sending out an electric and magnetic pulse of energy which cause voltage overloads. This doesn't mean all electronics are fried, as you have said.

No, EMPS are magic. They destroy electronics that are not hooked up FOREVER.

And all future electronics ever built too...

[Jagalonia]

No, EMPS are magic. They destroy electronics that are not hooked up FOREVER.

And all future electronics ever built too...

The blast is a wave, the energy doesn't stay in the air, it's a one time thing.
Think of the nukes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they do have electronics there, and as we all know, every nuke unleashes an EMP blast.

[Conserative Morality]

The blast is a wave, the energy doesn't stay in the air, it's a one time thing.
Think of the nukes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they do have electronics there, and as we all know, every nuke unleashes an EMP blast.

"Doctor! He's suffering from a sarcasm overdose! He's not even recognizing extra sarcasm entering his system!"

"Get me 50 ccs of British humour, stat!"

[Dyakovo]

And all future electronics ever built too...

The blast is a wave, the energy doesn't stay in the air, it's a one time thing.
Think of the nukes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they do have electronics there, and as we all know, every nuke unleashes an EMP blast.

It was sarcasm... I was making fun of the person who claimed it earlier in the thread.

[Jagalonia]

Thanks guys, I don't know where I'd be without you.