I can see gold and silver returning as "natural currency" - that is to say, outside of government control, probably in response to hyperinflation, but to expect anything from government in crisis other than jackboots and jingoism to me seems naive. I think it's more likely the government (meaning of course the USG) will find some pretext to start a war and use that as an excuse to remove dissidents and rule by decree. You almost have that now, and if the backdrop were a severe energy crisis leading to (more) war in the mid-east, you'd get a lot of support from the great unwashed who just love flags and marching music as long as they're part of the parade.

I'm still working on this puzzle but one thing seems clear to me: take away people's purchasing power and they just roll over - they don't even understand what's happening. Take away their gasoline however, and the bullets will start to fly.

ebear