I think that the global (mostly cisco) network, our electrical grids and key infrastructure are all so intertwined today that major failures could cascade. A Carrington event solar storm might do it, or a cyber war, which might be the backstory of a shooting war, or other black swans we haven’t thought of yet.
But I’ll stick to many of my major themes. If JIT delivery fails, it can all go haywire very fast when the cities run out of food. Our food comes from very far away, the entire networked system MUST work, or our cities could go hungry and explode very fast. I think a week without power in the USA could tip us right over the brink.
With EBT being the major income in urban areas, most homes probably have less than a few days food at best, it that, and they will burn it fast, not giving a thought to rationing what they have.
By the time they figure out the stores are all empty, they are out. I agree. Whatever happens will happen fast.
You’re spot on. We are absolutely vulnerable IF it goes away. That’s neither bad or good, because there really isn’t an alternative. If you want to sell to the world, you have to be out there in it, and what can be more out there in the world than the world-wide web?
You are a great writer, and you’re using that same vulnerable network to sell yourself and make your mark in the world.
When you think about it, the “interconnectiveness” of it all is mind-boggling.
I think you'd just see increases in individual crime if the power was out for a week.
...now, 21 days without food re-supply to the cities could start epidemic riots and mob rule, followed by general anarchy if the food remained gone for anytime longer.
After that round of carnage, you'd then have a thinned-out herd. The smartest and strongest would emerge. Most major cities are coastal. Sailboats would go fishing and the fish would score bartering for anything from women/dates to weapons/ammo or (some urban) gardening.
Speaking of which, the ammo shortage is a bit long in the tooth. Weird.