This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper.
In my last post we looked at how Enemies of Civilization might use a small eclectic mix of smuggled WMDs to wage a psychological war designed to induce us to destroy ourselves. I chose my own country for the example but this could happen anywhere civilization flourishes. Twelve such attacks spread out over the better part of a year might lead to the following avalanche of self-destructive behavior.
Stage 2: Do-it-Yourself Demolition Derby.
By the third or fourth attack, the American people begin refusing to enter their cities. Businesses shut down from lack of staff, throwing others out of work in cascading succession. Disappearing gas supplies and trucker reluctance to go into population centers causes major food shortages. Each new shortage and each reported attack increases the panic and rate of exodus. Many police officers and public servants abandon their posts, taking their families out of town to safety. Rule of law and social services diminish to levels not seen since Hurricane Katrina. (Remember the Superdome horrors? Rodney King Riots? Ferguson Fiasco?)
Anarchy reigns. Those that survive seek refuge in the suburbs.
Initially, the folks in the suburbs are eager to lend a hand. But as the refugees from the inner cities swell, limited resources force them to turn people away. These people, with nowhere to go, turn desperate and violent. Rioting and then civil war breaks out in the suburbs. Those that survive flee to neighboring small towns.
Initially, the folks in the small towns are eager to lend a hand. But as the refugees from the suburbs swell, every Sheriff Andy and Deputy Barney is forced to turn people away at the town limits. These people, with nowhere to go, turn desperate and violent. Civil war breaks out in and around most small towns. Those that survive flee to the countryside.
Initially, the folks in the countryside are eager to lend a hand. But as the refugees from the small towns swell, limited resources force them to turn people away. These people, with nowhere to go, turn desperate and violent. Civil war breaks out in the countryside – every family for itself.
The conflict over dwindling resources continues, preventing the production of more resources in a deadly death spiral. Farms are overrun making it impossible to plant, cultivate, or harvest. The economy comes to an absolute halt because no one dares travel to work, even if they could find and afford the gas to do so. Over 90% of our population is decimated before the desperate and unprepared burn themselves out.
All that remains are scattered enclaves where enough people were able to band together to withstand the cresting of the refugee tide. These form the seeds of new micro governments who begin the process of dealing or feuding with their neighbors ... eventually assimilating or being assimilated by them.
Feudal America has arrived.
Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” Revelation 18:21-24