[jotm]

This "life always on the brink" preparedness is a major part of what's keeping poor European countries poor.

Everybody distrusts the government, they rely on each other, learn to do things themselves so they don't rely on others. So, money doesn't exchange hands, taxes don't get paid, GDP doesn't grow, more money doesn't get printed.

This is all in a very interconnected world with a mostly free economy, so outsiders just come and buy up everything because at the end of the day, money matters.

Instead of preparing for collapse, how about preparing for being united in work and life and start trusting and depending on each other more.

[flohofwoe]

I agree, but at least looking back that was pretty much the only way to keep going. The government wasn't able to solve (or even recognize) the problems of the "ordinary people", so the people had to deal with solving the problems themselves. Of course this will never be as effective as having an actually functional government, and it will lead to corruption in all levels of society.

[dickjocke]

The average American didn't (and probably doesn't) distrust their government on anywhere near the same visceral level as someone living in the soviet union.

[vbezhenar]

It's hard to trust thieves who demonstrably ignore laws when it suits them.