Not to many years ago you would see gardens in the inner city... no one has the skills to live poor anymore... not even poor people... maybe a good bust cycle will wake this country up.
A few friends and I have this conversation from time to time. We're "old timers". I can repair my house (hell I could build a new one), grow a garden, repair my old trucks (1971 GMC 1 ton utility body, 1970 Chevrolet Panel), repair a bicycle (if I can't afford fuel), cut wood for my essentially pollution free wood burning stove, I can even repair and operate a sewing machine. My friends and I are a dying breed. California schools used to teach students how to be somewhat self sufficient. The "home making", woodworking, gardening, electrical shop type classes were phased out long ago. Very few children learn these skills anymore.
I hate be be a forecaster of "doom and gloom", today we are upset about fuel prices, fuel is just the tip of the iceburg. Ten years from now the topic won't be fuel it will be fresh water. Politicians don't talk about water. They soon will be forced to.