[jmuguy]

One of the principles of HN is to take the strongest meaning of an argument, instead of the weakest. I am not casting everyone who prepares for a disaster into the same bucket - I have specifically said I think that people who are attempting to prepare for the literal end of the world by stockpiling supplies are silly.

There are IMO a very small set of circumstances, out of many likely full collapse scenarios, where your average American (and make no mistake - I am specifically referring to Americans here) stockpiling junk is going to actually survive for very long.

This has nothing to do with faith in our society or institutions just that is uniquely American to think that you can buy your way out of any circumstance you can imagine.