Historically, tyrannies have made examples of a few to gain the compliance of many. For example, imagine they hanged a few "hoarders" and left their bodies hanging in the town square with a "hoarder" sign on each body. It would not be long before many people were turning in their stockpiles. By such tactics, few can control many. These tactics don't usually work 100% but they can have a big effect.
“Historically, tyrannies have made examples of a few to gain the compliance of many. For example, imagine they hanged a few “hoarders” and left their bodies hanging in the town square with a “hoarder” sign on each body.”
That works two ways. For instance the Commissar of the Hoarding Prevention Agency returns to his house at the end of the day and shouts “Honey! Kids! I am back from today’s hangings! Lets go catch a movie or something.” In the ensuing silence, the commissar notices that his family’s guts have been used to garland the Christmas tree.
Civil wars work that way. When food is seized as a means of control, the struggle has become existential. At that point all bets are off, and no weapon or action is beyond the pale.
We are the most fractious and best armed and informed body of citizens in human history. Whatever is needed to frustrate a hypothetical dictatorship will be employed.
Then it's time. Time for 'them' to be picked off, along with the hangmen. Lather, rinse, repeat until 'clean'. Those driving new cars with empty cupboards best beware of those who live more humbly and have instead invested in their family's future.
Put differently, take what someone has and then they have nothing to lose. That makes a person dangerous.