How Would a System Breakdown Happen?

[Kubra]

And I predict that when the call goes out, 50-70% of the guard/reserves don't show up due to a varity of reasons such as unable to travel, unable to care past security of their own families, or just don't care.

Ha. Only one of those excuses holds any sort of validity.

I'm willing to bet it's the last one.

[Paddy O Fernature]

And I predict that when the call goes out, 50-70% of the guard/reserves don't show up due to a varity of reasons such as unable to travel, unable to care past security of their own families, or just don't care.

Ha. Only one of those excuses holds any sort of validity.

Why? Because you said so?

I don't know about where you live, but around here the National Guard and Reserves don't live close to where they drill/muster. They get paid to travel to and from drill and get put up in hotels at the taxpayers expense.

I very much doubt, that any sane person would leave their zone of comfort and their family to walk or drive across a rioting (or several) cities just to show up for a muster. Much less so in a TEOTHAWKI situation.

[Conserative Morality]

Almost anyone could get to their nearest base/armory. It's not like they're that far apart.

I actually live within walking distance of the nearest armory. There are signs everywhere for it.

Not that I'm part of the National Guard, but it's the principle of the matter.

[Conserative Morality]

I'm willing to bet it's the last one.

First one. Travel.

[Vortiaganica]

1)The economy turns for the worst when oil production declines
2)America no longer has enough cash so to keep us afloat China buys more of out treasury bonds. They know without us they're toast
3)China maxes out and opens up to global market more than ever
4)China, no longer needing the U.S. because of all its new clients sells out bonds and sends us spiraling down even further
5)An alternative fuel has been found but is extremely expensive and only the first world countries can afford it
6)America can no longer sustain itself and crashes completely
7)Terrorists release biological weaponry in China and without the U.S. to stop it terror rages
8 )Global temperatures continue to rise and famines begin to break out across the world
9)A few countries remain standing but the world economy is like a heavy weight dragging them down
10)Many people give up and decide to forget about the government and start a new life in the ashes of the poor, hot, lonely world

Sorry, forgot China was a US protectorate.

[Conserative Morality]

Why? Because you said so?

No, because the rest are fucking stupid.

I very much doubt, that any sane person would leave their zone of comfort and their family to walk or drive across a rioting (or several) cities just to show up for a muster. Much less so in a TEOTHAWKI situation.

Yes, that's why the LA Riots were not in any way mitigated by the National Guard. After all, why would they endanger their lives or their comfort? It's not like they signed up with the knowledge that that might happen or anything-HEY WAIT A MINUTE!

[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?

I would assume a massive influx of immigrants. A rise of racism in America and the emergence of a Nazi like party which would take enough power to tip the balance but not rule. Basically a race war. Then to top it off inflation would hit an all time high, the economy collapses mid-war. Even if the government survived there is no way in hell it could enforce law and order in the midst of war and a depression.

BRB sending a bird flu pandemic to my fictional Mexico.

[Paddy O Fernature]

Why? Because you said so?

No, because the rest are fucking stupid.

I very much doubt, that any sane person would leave their zone of comfort and their family to walk or drive across a rioting (or several) cities just to show up for a muster. Much less so in a TEOTHAWKI situation.

Yes, that's why the LA Riots were not in any way mitigated by the National Guard. After all, why would they endanger their lives or their comfort? It's not like they signed up with the knowledge that that might happen or anything-HEY WAIT A MINUTE!

Kinda like you?

La riots would pale in comparison to a nation wide collapse. The fact that you would even bring this up in comparison is just laughable.

[Pottslande]

1)The economy turns for the worst when oil production declines
2)America no longer has enough cash so to keep us afloat China buys more of out treasury bonds. They know without us they're toast
3)China maxes out and opens up to global market more than ever
4)China, no longer needing the U.S. because of all its new clients sells out bonds and sends us spiraling down even further
5)An alternative fuel has been found but is extremely expensive and only the first world countries can afford it
6)America can no longer sustain itself and crashes completely
7)Terrorists release biological weaponry in China and without the U.S. to stop it terror rages
8 )Global temperatures continue to rise and famines begin to break out across the world
9)A few countries remain standing but the world economy is like a heavy weight dragging them down
10)Many people give up and decide to forget about the government and start a new life in the ashes of the poor, hot, lonely world

I like this one, particularly because the majority of my story is supposed to be about the last one.

[Der Teutoniker]

I actually live within walking distance of the nearest armory. There are signs everywhere for it.

Not that I'm part of the National Guard, but it's the principle of the matter.

Indeed. At the very, very worst, I could get to one that is an hour and half away (it's the closest one that I know where it is) on a half-tank of gas. That being said, I live in an even larger metro area, I'm sure there are several much closer than that one.

You don't necessarily need to report to where you are normally stationed. Showing up to the nearest base/armory is all that would be expected considering that there would be no real ability to communicate with the soldiers.

[Conserative Morality]

Kinda like you?

Absolutely.

La riots would pale in comparison to a nation wide collapse. The fact that you would even bring this up in comparison is just laughable.

It's not a nationwide collapse. It's a simple massive electronics failure. The fact that you would assume this means "Oh no everyone DIES FOREVER" is a testament to your inability to judge events.

[Vortiaganica]

1)The economy turns for the worst when oil production declines
2)America no longer has enough cash so to keep us afloat China buys more of out treasury bonds. They know without us they're toast
3)China maxes out and opens up to global market more than ever
4)China, no longer needing the U.S. because of all its new clients sells out bonds and sends us spiraling down even further
5)An alternative fuel has been found but is extremely expensive and only the first world countries can afford it
6)America can no longer sustain itself and crashes completely
7)Terrorists release biological weaponry in China and without the U.S. to stop it terror rages
8 )Global temperatures continue to rise and famines begin to break out across the world
9)A few countries remain standing but the world economy is like a heavy weight dragging them down
10)Many people give up and decide to forget about the government and start a new life in the ashes of the poor, hot, lonely world

I like this one, particularly because the majority of my story is supposed to be about the last one.

It's also not very realistic.

If we maxed out on oil, that would be enough, but his follow-up is just remarkably bad. If y'all had no oil, the rest would be a moot point, even if China depended on the US to stop terrorism as the world's superhero.

[Seleniums]

Simply remove the dollar as the world reserve currency. Once the Chinese renmimbi and euro as estabilished as the leading forms of world trade, the U.S. will decline in significance. This decrease in funding will lead to disrepair of infrastructure as well as military upkeep. Once the military's weapons have sufficiently degraded, a satellite, as previously suggested, or some nuclear malfunction could lead to an unstable population which had sufficient power to overthrow the weakened, impoverished military and lead the U.S. into anarchy.

[Der Teutoniker]

Kinda like you?

La riots would pale in comparison to a nation wide collapse. The fact that you would even bring this up in comparison is just laughable.

Wow... great zing.

And I think he was comparing the situation in a localized way. It might be like the LA riots... but all over the country. Maybe you aren't aware... but there are National Guard soldiers in more places than LA.

[Der Teutoniker]

Absolutely.

He burned you good!

[Conserative Morality]

Wow... great zing.

And I think he was comparing the situation in a localized way. It might be like the LA riots... but all over the country. Maybe you aren't aware... but there are National Guard soldiers in more places than LA.

The guard wouldn't even be needed everywhere. Cops, cops, everywhere in my town.

[Paddy O Fernature]

Kinda like you?

Absolutely.

La riots would pale in comparison to a nation wide collapse. The fact that you would even bring this up in comparison is just laughable.

It's not a nationwide collapse. It's a simple massive electronics failure. The fact that you would assume this means "Oh no everyone DIES FOREVER" is a testament to your inability to judge events.

Yes, cause a nation without power, running water, communication, air travel (to name a few things that would disappear in a EMP attack) is a very simple thing to fix.

Again look at New O, how long did it take the Feds to respond?

[Conserative Morality]

He burned you good!

I'm actually sitting at my computer in tears now. He called me stupid. He, a random internet poster. I feel so...

Hollow. This event will shape the rest of life and drive me into a dark spiral of abuse and alcoholism. At night, in my deepest whisky-induced stupors, I will look at the sky and curse the man who turned me into a broken shell of a human being.

[Paddy O Fernature]

Kinda like you?

La riots would pale in comparison to a nation wide collapse. The fact that you would even bring this up in comparison is just laughable.

Wow... great zing.

And I think he was comparing the situation in a localized way. It might be like the LA riots... but all over the country. Maybe you aren't aware... but there are National Guard soldiers in more places than LA.

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

Seriously dude... troll harder.

[Paddy O Fernature]

He burned you good!

I'm actually sitting at my computer in tears now. He called me stupid. He, a random internet poster. I feel so...

Hollow. This event will shape the rest of life and drive me into a dark spiral of abuse and alcoholism. At night, in my deepest whisky-induced stupors, I will look at the sky and curse the man who turned me into a broken shell of a human being.

And for the flamebait...

Go fuck yourself.

[Conserative Morality]

Yes, cause a nation without power, running water, communication, air travel (to name a few things that would disappear in a EMP attack) is a very simple thing to fix.

When the problem is not infrastructure collapse but rather a few replacement parts?

Yes. It is a comparably easy thing to fix. It would not cause a complete and total collapse.

Again look at New O, how long did it take the Feds to respond?

Quite a bit, due to stupidity from the governor and the fact that the city was, you know, flooded.

[Conserative Morality]

And for the flamebait...

Go fuck yourself.

DAMN YOU PADDY! I COULDA BEEN A CONTENDA!

[Der Teutoniker]

And for the flamebait...

Go fuck yourself.

You flame him, then when he ridicules your ridiculous flaming, you call it flamebaiting (which this really wasn't anyway) then flame him again? Fantastic.

[Cresilia]

I'm actually sitting at my computer in tears now. He called me stupid. He, a random internet poster. I feel so...

Hollow. This event will shape the rest of life and drive me into a dark spiral of abuse and alcoholism. At night, in my deepest whisky-induced stupors, I will look at the sky and curse the man who turned me into a broken shell of a human being.

And for the flamebait...

Go fuck yourself.

Hey! Play nice

[Paddy O Fernature]

And for the flamebait...

Go fuck yourself.

You flame him, then when he ridicules your ridiculous flaming, you call it flamebaiting (which this really wasn't anyway) then flame him again? Fantastic.

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?