[iosDrone]

"Finally, the CEO of a brokerage house explained that he had nearly completed building his own underground bunker system and asked, “How do I maintain authority over my security force after the event?”

The Event. That was their euphemism for the environmental collapse, social unrest, nuclear explosion, unstoppable virus, or Mr. Robot hack that takes everything down.

This single question occupied us for the rest of the hour. They knew armed guards would be required to protect their compounds from the angry mobs. But how would they pay the guards once money was worthless? What would stop the guards from choosing their own leader? The billionaires considered using special combination locks on the food supply that only they knew."

Wouldn't the guards simply torture you until you opened all of the locks?

[ahje]

> Wouldn't the guards simply torture you until you opened all of the locks?

Yes. Or just shoot you in the back when the door's open. Or something else.

Long-time survival in the event of society breakdown lies primarily in one's ability of re-building it, at least on a small, local scale. After all, sitting in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere might keep you alive for a while, but only until your food runs out, or your tools break and you lose your ability to sustain yourself.

[Retra]

Or just shoot you and cut the locks. There's nothing that is accessible to only one person.

[chii]

Put in fail deadly devices - e.g., thermite burners or bombs.

Putting in a wrong password, or excessive physical damage, will cause it to trigger, destroying the valuables.

[makapuf]

If you're alone you will make mistakes. If you're not...then you're back to trusting some people.