If unemployment rises rapidly to 15%, do you expect massive Civil Unrest? (bankrupt, insurance)

[the_critic]

Not a day goes by when there are not reports of huge layoffs and companies eliminating all hiring. Unemployment is going up fast and most people believe the offical rate may go up to 15% within a year.

If unemployment does go that high, the economy will get to the crisis stage because only 35% are eligible for unemployment and almost half of our population lives paycheck to paycheck. If local and state governments continue to cut social services and credit card limits are cut, many Americans are going to become homeless and desparate.

How will the rapidly falling economy and huge unemployment effect our social structure and do you expect massive social unrest?

[bale002]

Didn't crack distribution become widespread during or shortly after the late 1970s/early 1980s recession?

[TNKY]

Hey in this MI city we're already nearing 15% unemployment and nothing crazy here. People don't do anything here anymore, that costs money. People are going bankrupt, not going out to eat, not getting their cars fixed, not giving to charitable causes, dropping health insurance, abondoning their pets, lowering their thermostat in their houses, losing their houses, hunting for food, stealing from charity drop off sites, car pooling to the point where kids are double-buckled and lining up for hand outs wherever they're givin' em. Oh, I guess things are getting crazy after all.

[Stac2007]

Crowds get very ugly when they begin to commiserate. Yes I see civil unrest.

[the painter]

Budget cuts=less cops
Unemployed=more crime
more crime + less cop = martial law?
In 8 yrs on my street there has been -0- crimes, in the pass 3 weeks there has been 3 incidents. Has it already started?

[Nor'Eastah]

No, I don't think so.

Unemployment is already "really" closer to 15%, it's just that the gov't is not counting anyone who isn't collecting unemployment compensation. Add up everybody who really isn't working, and BINGO! we are at or near 15% already.

[sergeyn]

I doubt that. Since the 60's Americans haven't really come together and challenged authority (and even in the 60's it was pretty isolated and was limited to young idealists). I think the mindset just isn't there-- we are not a nation of fighters. My expectation is that people will complain a lot but adjust to the new situations they find themselves in. That's how I see the state of modern American culture-- the days of mass standing-up-to-whoever are gone.

I do think that some violent discontent may occur in the bad parts of the cities but I doubt it'll stick around. Back a few decades ago there was the sense of racial injustice that fueled riots but I doubt that's relevant today. The very poor will either suffer quitely or turn to crime in greater numbers.

Yes, I think crime (including violent crime) will grow quite a bit...sure glad we live in an upper middle class suburb 15 miles away from the closest trouble area.

[Stephan_K]

Originally Posted by sergeyn

Yes, I think crime (including violent crime) will grow quite a bit...sure glad we live in an upper middle class suburb 15 miles away from the closest trouble area.

What, the thugs don't have cars ?

They don't acquire all those hi tech electronic toys form the people that don't own them in the hood !

[Huckleberry3911948]

no but i expect gap between crime and punishment to tighten up.
we dont do punishment we do confinement. timeout is not working.

[evilnewbie]

Personally I would only allow credit for buying homes, buying a car, or for grad and postgrad education. I will not allow people to "live" on credit... that will in itself change their behavior and also cause a major economic shift.. one from a debt economy to a spend economy... an economy that relies on people living within their means... of course the wealthy won't get super-wealthy, progress will be slower, federal government gets weaker, and regular people will have to settle with not buying 3-4 cars, 5 TV sets, or dining out every night... They will have to live with less and know that that is the REAL standard of living... people don't want the REAL standard of living, they want the PERCEIVED standard of living... that is, whatever they think it is...