” . . . after fragmentation of the population?”

We might expect the Powerdown author, Richard Heinberg to envision a nightmare for family security.

“Perhaps the collapse of industrial societies is at this point unavoidable. Still more distressing is the likelihood that the collapse will not occur in a measured, controlled manner.

“Our first instinctual thought must inevitably travel along the lines of personal and family survival. Where should we go? What would we need? What sort of climate, how much garden space? What would be our water source? Should we stock up on guns and ammo?

“It doesn’t take long, following that path, to arrive at a dead end. If I have a garden but my neighbors are hungry, I must either defend my land with deadly force or watch my crops disappear. But what if someone else has more guns, or comes when I am asleep?

“Ultimately, persona survival will depend on community survival. But, then, if my community is prospering while neighboring communities are mired in hunger and violence, then my community will have to defend itself.”

How concerned should I be? Heinberg is a sober college professor, and Powerdown is analytical not sensational, reasoned not histrionic. However, Heinberg presumably does want to sell books, and this sounds like a science fiction B movie.

But others don’t want to sell books – don’t even want to be overheard. I’m speaking of the German military planners I posted about whose study was leaked a few months back.

“The Bundeswehr study also raises fears for the survival of democracy itself. Parts of the population could perceive the upheaval triggered by peak oil “as a general systemic crisis.” This would create “room for ideological and extremist alternatives to existing forms of government.” Fragmentation of the affected population is likely and could “in extreme cases lead to open conflict.”

So, could this B movie turn into a documentary?