[Poohbah]

Ralph Peters has pointed out that authoritarian violence becomes statistically ineffective in a very short period of time. In other words, the government might try bashing heads--and will quickly come to regret it. Within a couple of years, the authoritarian America would be transformed into a few urban enclaves on the coast (where sealift is available) and a vast ungoverned hinterland that must be flown over--because it will be too dangerous to go overland in anything less than a convoy with an mechanized brigade for escort.

[Travis McGee]

Just leave Arizona or Texas for me, and your terms are acceptable.

[adx]

Within a couple of years, the authoritarian America would be transformed into a few urban enclaves on the coast (where sealift is available) and a vast ungoverned hinterland that must be flown over--because it will be too dangerous to go overland in anything less than a convoy with an mechanized brigade for escort.

They may have to commit occasional raids into the countryside to have enough food to feed the enclaves, or to keep their water sources secure. They could set up desalinazation plants, mabye (piss off the envirowackos though), but what will they do for food? Can they get enough food to feed their populations via world trade and have it be cost-effective?

Or are they just gonna have to resort to "Soylent Green"? :)