It's not a collapse, but a VERY VERY VIOLENT restructuring and tightening.
Worst case (#17B flash situation in my records, 17, social model B of 113 total situations)
Complete collapse would involve a governmental inability to control the economy (believe me, there is a huge tie between general business welfare and government). IF the guvment cant control the economy on even the most basic of levels, it cannot control the nation. IE Government contol failure=economic failure=national failure=epic fail. There would be fuel/food riots immediantly as companies struggle to maintain supply lines (this after a gradual and VERY apparent decline in government social services, state and federal, but uncontrollable rises in unemployment after complete failure of American financial institutions). After an initial conflict with local municipal contol entities (cops) the situation would either: stabilize into a police state with almost decades of rebuild to a livable level or degerate as national guard armories are looted and actions taken upon anything carrying a government badge/card. Inital stabilization by governmental forces would be weak and easily routed (tear gas is no match for freshly armed thugs in one HUGE mass marching upon the police stations). At this point, I would suggest people to bug out, not in. It would be a losing battle. After about 3 months, local gangs (no better term for it) would be superceded by one general gang/group after infighting and sectarian violence. They would most likely begin movements towards to outer rims of urban areas as already dwindling supplies are gone (suburbs and local rural communities), only to be routed by simple organizations or groups enforcing community security. General situation will equalize in 2 years to a basic system of survival, 6 years for stabilized fundamental system of trade and weights (basics for economy) and a re-establishment of a 1800s era economic system of banking by year 9. Any government influence could be restablished but only with a MAJOR initiative on their part (such as martial law or similar).
Meer projection
