I'm hesitant to expand much just since this topic is 1) done to death and 2) not really what ETS is about. But briefly, yes- of course S has HTF in the past and will in the future. No place is completely immune to a breakdown of the social order. I think it's unlikely that a Western liberal democracy will descend into anarchy anytime soon but I'll concede it's not impossible. My main issue with the entire TEOTWAWKI thing is that it will almost certainly be nothing like the survivalists think it will be. The closest analogs to TEOTWAWKI in modern times would probably be the war in Bosnia in the 90's. None of the current survivalist strategies would have been of much us in that situation. I don't think you really can be prepared for the utter collapse of human civilization and a descent to Mad Max conditions. Personally I'm not sure I would want to survive it, either. I like the wilderness but I enjoy living within the context of being part of human society. Scratching out a few years living like an animal doesn't hold much appeal for me.

[/rant off]