class warfare and the unpreparedness of USA culture

It is interesting that the checker at the supermarket remarked that "We are modern.."
Thereby implying that what could happen in the Third World could not (would not) happen here.

What was happening in the Third World a couple of years ago was/were food riots---caused by increased food prices, caused by (among other things) financial speculation, the capitalist's desire to increase his capital, no matter who suffers.

I remarked that a small bag of rice I had just purchased now costs $1.20. A couple of years ago
that bag was round $1.00, and the newest increase was large.  (I would need to check receipts to be sure of the details, but I'm sure there's been a grotesque increase.)

I remarked that whether this is the "Third World" or not doesn't matter.  When food prices can increase so much so quickly, I personally am frightened.

And his response:  "I am going to stock up on firearms."

Well, if he does, it won't solve the problem.  As Richard D. Wolff, the economist, is fond of pointing out, you cannot solve a social problem by individual action.

But, the irony is this:  what that guy called the "modernity" of the USA is in fact part of the problem.
People in the USA have been trained up by a culture of individual effort, which has not yet reached all parts of the world.  (Thankfully!)  So, the very thing that makes the USA "modern" and unlike the Third World makes the guy less likely to reach for a real solution, more likely to rely on individual actions----and insane ones at that.  Does he really imagine he'll be robbing grocery stores? 

Link to Richard D. Wolff's website:
http://rdwolff.com/