... the manipulators logically will try to ..., page-8

LOL! Well, for what it's worth, here's one how-the-world-will-end scenario that makes one or two good points about collapsing superpowers (drawing paralells between the US and the demise of the USSR) amind some other strangeness:

http://cluborlov.blogspot.com/2009/02/social-collapse-best-practices.html

I'm heading out to plant some potatoes now.

Seriously, though, Dub - I hear ya. I also don't think things will get that bad, but if they do I sure as hell don't want to see it.