collapse preparedness: bring on the "corporate wars!"

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/23259 is a nice essay comparing the "collapse preparedness" of the USSR before it collapsed with the USA in 2006, when it was written.

I had always understood that the transition from communism to capitalism was not difficult because there had always been a free-market system in the USSR, the "black market" all along. The black market is not mentioned directly in the essay, although it is implied.

I think the thing that Dmitry Orlov misses, though, is the relative weakness of the USA government compared to Russian central planning.

Here's an example scenario, inspired by having recently purchased a sandwich with gift certificates the same size and denomination (although on shiny paper, and bright red) as dollar bills:

Let's say the United States government somehow collapses instantly. After a very short moment of chaos, MCD fires up their gift certificate presses and we've got workable paper money again.

Any of the Fortune 100 could do this, and they all know it.

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