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Matt Bracken, When The Music Stops – How America’s Cities May Explode In Violence
James Fetzer Blog ^ | Matt Bracken

Posted on 10/28/2025 11:30:05 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe

In response to recent articles in mainstream military journals discussing the use of the U.S. Army to quell insurrections on American soil, I offer an alternate vision of the future. Instead of a small town in the South as the flash point, picture instead a score of U.S. cities in the thrall of riots greater than those experienced in Los Angeles in 1965 (Watts), multiple cities in 1968 (MLK assassination), and Los Angeles again in 1992 (Rodney King). New Yorkers can imagine the 1977 blackout looting or the 1991 Crown Heights disturbance. In fact, the proximate spark of the next round of major riots in America could be any from a long list cribbed from our history.

(snip)

In my scenario, the initial riots begin spontaneously across affected urban areas, as SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program) and other government welfare recipients learn that their EBT cards no longer function. This sudden revelation will cause widespread anger, which will quickly lead to the flash-mob looting of local supermarkets and other businesses. The media will initially portray these “food riots” as at least partly justifiable. Sadly, millions of Americans have been made largely, or even entirely, dependent on government wealth transfer payments to put food on their tables.

(Excerpt) Read more at jameshfetzer.org ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: ebt; iwbg; snap; war
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With November 1 on the horizon, thought to repost this.
1 posted on 10/28/2025 11:30:05 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe
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To: Tench_Coxe; Travis McGee

Hat tip to Travis McGee


2 posted on 10/28/2025 11:31:06 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: Tench_Coxe

Very timely!

Buckle up!


3 posted on 10/28/2025 11:33:18 AM PDT by The FIGHTIN Illini ("Let Us Never Forget What They Have Done")
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To: Tench_Coxe

Prophet McGee called this one years ago.

And here’s my question. It’s 100% predictable that if SNAP stops abruptly one day, people will take it to the streets in a big way.

So if that is the case, can we assume that BOTH parties are ok with the very predictable outcome?


4 posted on 10/28/2025 11:37:13 AM PDT by DesertRhino (When men on the chessboard, get up and tell you where to go…)
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To: Tench_Coxe

Grocery shopping and then a stop for more ammo.


5 posted on 10/28/2025 11:40:22 AM PDT by Agatsu77
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To: Tench_Coxe

In a world far far away many poor people had to much self respect to take handouts…..


6 posted on 10/28/2025 11:43:03 AM PDT by kjam22
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To: Tench_Coxe

“When the hunger begins to bite, supermarkets, shops and restaurants will be looted, and initially the media will not condemn the looting. Unfortunately, this initial violence will only be the start of a dangerous escalation.”

Not an unlikely scenario, so why aren’t we preparing for it with some heavy protection of grocery stores and some serious punishment dished out if and when it first breaks out.

This has to be nipped at the bud or else it’ll pandemonium.


7 posted on 10/28/2025 11:51:02 AM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they. control you. )
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To: DesertRhino

My normal Friday grocery is on Oct. 31. After that, I guess we have to see. I live in a suburban mid-size city, Huntsville, AL. But those food stamp people are probably all around me...


8 posted on 10/28/2025 11:56:56 AM PDT by citizen (A transgender male competing against women may be male, but he's no man.)
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To: kjam22

yours:
“In a world far far away many poor people had to much self respect to take handouts…..”

AGREED! a major part of the problem is a lack of individual self-respect

also,
in those old days the local grocer and butcher would allow folks to have food on credit (no interest in those days) and even deliver it, no problem

they knew that the folks would pay them back, if not tomorrow then in a month or two...no problem.

in those old days, the local diner happily serviced full meals with desserts ... to anybody, regardless if the patrons had the money to pay or not. If not, the patron only had to sign the bill, tab, period end of file. No fuss, no trouble, no credit checking, just a THANK YOU for your patronage and did you get dessert, let me get one for you?

The patrons would almost always pay their tabs in a few days or weeks, when they could.

Also, even the big supermarket chains would happily GIVE you soup bones for free (the last one I had to buy for the neighbor’s dog I was charged ten bucks for...)

from those soup bones and the free vegetables both the groceries and the packing sheds would give you, you could make a good soup for free and no government involvement, bureaucrappy, or electronic ebt giveaway cards that the government can turn on AND OFF on you

just thinking about those times of yore

some features of life back then really were pretty good, all things considered


9 posted on 10/28/2025 11:58:25 AM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: Tench_Coxe

What gets me is how healthy riots are for the body politik. The rioters get it out of their system and life goes on. People act as if rioting is the end of the world.

Many riots have occurred over the last 100 years and America just keeps on ticking. I do believe respect for law must be restored, including judges who gleefully disrespect the law daily to satisfy their very own personal feelings.


10 posted on 10/28/2025 12:02:46 PM PDT by Racketeer
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To: Tench_Coxe

“Sadly, millions of Americans have been made largely, or even entirely, dependent on government wealth transfer payments to put food on their tables.”

As a wise man once said, “you better think ten times before you hand out bennies, because if you ever take them away you’ll have the pains of hell to pay” .


11 posted on 10/28/2025 12:05:37 PM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they. control you. )
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To: Tench_Coxe

Kill cell service in the hood: no more flash mobs. Turn off the power, water and gas and make them march out subject to search.


12 posted on 10/28/2025 12:10:23 PM PDT by pierrem15 ("Massacrez-les, car le seigneur connait les siens" )
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To: aquila48

Or maybe they will spend some of their cig, drug and booze money on food.

Food is cheap and available. If one knows how to budget.

If one is willing to eat plainly rice and beans are cheap.


13 posted on 10/28/2025 12:12:34 PM PDT by riverrunner
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To: riverrunner

Two big “IFs” When we have required no personal responsibility of people, then they have no self-respect. Nor do they respect anyone else’s property or lives.


14 posted on 10/28/2025 12:24:43 PM PDT by Freee-dame
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To: Agatsu77

Brass,Lead and Copper,
.
Breakfast of Champions!


15 posted on 10/28/2025 12:25:14 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (ALL Things Will be Revealed !)
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To: T.B. Yoits
Food stamp programs subsidize producers and retailers, not the poor, especially the obese ones.

An inordinate number of food stamp recipients sell them at a fraction of the value so they can buy things not approved with food stamps.

The government is completely in on the racket as a seed program to direct taxpayer money into communities that otherwise would revert to either "Escape From New York" if urban or "The Road Warrior" if rural.

16 posted on 10/28/2025 12:33:17 PM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: riverrunner

“Food is cheap and available. If one knows how to budget.”

Do you think for a microsecond that these deadbeats know or care about budgeting?


17 posted on 10/28/2025 12:35:57 PM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they. control you. )
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To: Tench_Coxe

When I read this back in 2012 or so, I had a strong feeling it was more prophetic than musing.

November 1 will show the level of Democrat disdain for citizens. November 2 will show the level of incapability that law enforcement has to protect shop owners.


18 posted on 10/28/2025 12:44:38 PM PDT by txeagle
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To: aquila48

It would end sooner if a fair number of rioters didn’t survive to see the serious punishment phase.


19 posted on 10/28/2025 12:46:48 PM PDT by txeagle
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To: aquila48

Then criminal element doesn’t need much of a reason.

Most are not criminals. Or are will to risk their lives for food.

I am not saying that is a very few areas something might happen.

But for the most part the people would receive payments will not riot..


20 posted on 10/28/2025 12:51:26 PM PDT by riverrunner
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