Preppers don't realize it, but they're screwed too. Because if the sh*t really hits the fan, the haves will be under serious assault by waves of have-nots. Unless the prepper is in some secret isolated cabin somewhere, it won't be pretty for anyone in the good ol' USA.
Having said that, it still makes sense to be prepared. It's cheap insurance.
When I used up all of my prep stuff after October 2008, I wasn't over-run. But that was a personal SHTF thing.
I'll take my chances.
Do you have historical evidence for your observation? If it's more than a personal SHTF kind of thing?
/johnny