I agree.  How and when can be the only guess.  I think the the world realizes that they have us by the short hairs.  In a situation of colapsing availability I think "sharing" is an utopian dream.  The US has pushed people around for too long - and is the most vulnerable.  I think the "thin veil" of society will disappear on various levels.
The collision of personal and gov't US debt./ declining energy suplies/ dollar devaluation will start to gain momentum.

I hate the thought of what we are in for.  
Pres. Carter was so vilified - how he looks now...
My buddy thinks that in 2-4 years we are going to be demanding another GW...
The 4 horsemen and will I live long enough to see it?  Probably...

Jeffery - I admire your courage.  Best of luck to you and your family in the coming years.

DelusionaL

Thanks for the kind words.  We are in for "interesting times."

Indeed -  things have not even gotten that bad for the average American. There's an underlying, very unspoken, tension but that's it. Americans won't admit that there's something funny going on with college depending on 8+% loans, cars cost a year's income, people are working 60 hours, and their parents are markedly healthier and happier than they are (and calling them slackers) and things seem to be "tightening up" in all areas, from law enforcement to social class stratification (a lot still believe in the idiotic dream of social mobility and can't understand why it does not seem to be happening).

Things are going to get very interesting when things get actually bad. And we'll elect our Hitler or Mussolini, and people will natter on about how this has never happened before, first time in history, etc.

check out the EB article on the spreading incidents of copper theft