Ill agree with NorLA…guy that some of the comments on this site have gotten alittle over pesmesetic as of late. I dont think we are going to a “mad max” type world, even if we go into a depression. Rather, I think all of this crap will be taken out of our countries hide in a reduced standard of living for years and years to come. We will still have cars, but teenagers will get to borrow the car for the night, not get a new mustang on their 16th bday. People will take camping vacations in the USA rather than ‘Eco’ Camping vacations in Thailand. A movie and chain resturant dinner will be alot more common than a night on the town after a steakhouse dinner.
Basically I think we will go back to a lower, if more stable, standard of living for all.
Unfornatually I also think that the gap between rich and middle class will continue to widen.