I need some positive reasons why not to plan for a SHTF scenario.

[rfmad]

I am seriously thinking of taking to steps to go to a survivalist approach planning to survuve total chaos and financial and institutional break down. Some one please help me see why this is not going to happen. Thanks

[GregoryFul]

If the D's try to steal our 401k's, there would be a revolution.

I heard the idea floated that to make such a move palatable, popular even, these magnanimous lords would plus up the account balance to what it was in September, 08, take charge and put it in a "lock box," making only wise investments for the putative owner - later (after some arbitrary set retirement age: 98, 104, 115 say) doling it out over time as necessary to the lifetime sucker saver.

No word on what they would do with the residual estates - probably something worthy, no doubt, bridge to nowhere, giant statues and greater memorials to 0bama, Kennedy, Hotdog, Waxman, Pelosi, and friends, a trillion for Aids research, free abortions for all, maybe.

Revolution, piffle! The last six months have seen the greatest plunder of the people's and their children's wealth ever (to date). Response? Not even a whimper.

[steadfastconservative]

If people lose faith in the dollar, then we’ll have a real economic crisis and heaven only knows what kind of increase in government power that will lead to.

But my main point on this thread is that if the social order broke down, most Americans would just have to stay where they are and deal with it. The majority of the population lives in metropolitan areas and cannot simply run away to rural areas and hide out until the situation returns to normal. This whole survivalist concept is only going to work for people who live in rural areas or away from population centers. It’s only going to work for people who have the means of providing their own food, water, and electricity for a prolonged period of time. It isn’t going to work for most Americans.

But look at the “bright” side. If the social order broke down, the federal government would quickly step in and impose martial law. The breakdown of order would itself become an excuse to drastically increase the power of the government and would, in fact, lead to the creation of a liberal fascist state. And in that event, even the survivalists hiding in rural areas would eventually lose their freedom as well, making this whole argument moot.