My most feared scenario is that inflation gets way out of control. I see inflation coming, bad enough to be a problem, but I don't see it getting to the point where we overthrow the government, other than at the ballot box. I don't think that meets the OP's criteria.
Something else to consider. Up until the recent unpleasantness, many (if not most) financial advisers, investors, whatever had never actually experienced a recession. Their experience was that the stock market always goes up. Recessions were something that happened in ancient history, not present day. A few of us old fogeys had experienced it and realized it could happen again. I think that experience helps.
The way I understand it (and I could be wrong), the OP is talking mostly to college kids. Nothing wrong with college kids. I was one a few decades ago. Their enthusiasm and emotional involvement is a great asset. But their thoughts and ideas are not all that unique. They don't realize it, but we old fogeys had the same thoughts and ideas decades ago. We thought the world as we knew it was going to end in the late 60's/early 70's. The anti-war demonstrations? Read about the New York City draft riots during the Civil War. The sexual revolution? Birth control made a difference but check out the flappers of the 20's. Consider the Alien and Sedition Acts, Lincoln and Jefferson exceeding their constitutional authority, the excessives of the Robber Barons, the debates over the National Bank. We've been through challenging times and constitutional crises before. We are still here.
I'm not criticizing college kids. I am not questioning intelligence or motivation. I am questioning perspective. When was living through the 60's I did not have experience or real understanding of history. I probably still don't have a lot, but from my reading and experience, I am not as worried as some others obviously are. I am fully aware that not everyone that thinks disaster is immediately going to occur is of college age. I know some have a lot of experience. I'm just tossing something else out for consideration and to explain why I still have hope.
Something else to consider. Up until the recent unpleasantness, many (if not most) financial advisers, investors, whatever had never actually experienced a recession. Their experience was that the stock market always goes up. Recessions were something that happened in ancient history, not present day. A few of us old fogeys had experienced it and realized it could happen again. I think that experience helps.
The way I understand it (and I could be wrong), the OP is talking mostly to college kids. Nothing wrong with college kids. I was one a few decades ago. Their enthusiasm and emotional involvement is a great asset. But their thoughts and ideas are not all that unique. They don't realize it, but we old fogeys had the same thoughts and ideas decades ago. We thought the world as we knew it was going to end in the late 60's/early 70's. The anti-war demonstrations? Read about the New York City draft riots during the Civil War. The sexual revolution? Birth control made a difference but check out the flappers of the 20's. Consider the Alien and Sedition Acts, Lincoln and Jefferson exceeding their constitutional authority, the excessives of the Robber Barons, the debates over the National Bank. We've been through challenging times and constitutional crises before. We are still here.
I'm not criticizing college kids. I am not questioning intelligence or motivation. I am questioning perspective. When was living through the 60's I did not have experience or real understanding of history. I probably still don't have a lot, but from my reading and experience, I am not as worried as some others obviously are. I am fully aware that not everyone that thinks disaster is immediately going to occur is of college age. I know some have a lot of experience. I'm just tossing something else out for consideration and to explain why I still have hope.