As far as how to prepare for world emergencies lasting for years, if we look to history we can see examples like Joseph in Egypt and try to learn from them, they stockpiled 7 years of grain and sold it to the people.

Just real quick, Cuba, Egypt, FR Polynesia, Russia, China, Singapore, Viet Nam and Italy.

I've seen lots of small families with their garden, cow, chickens etc in Mexico, Soviet states, China, Cambodia, and most recently Egypt.

People who have money 1%People who owe money 99%Egypt and Cleopatra, Deja Vu?

As a young man trying to survive in America, the Army took me all across America, Haiti, Egypt, Kuwait, etc... these days I travel for leisure in and out of country.

Leadership changes.So, not only are you subject to currency fluctuations, but you're also at the whim of a government that may change the rules to suit their convenience (like Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in Argentina attempted to drastically raise taxes on farms to make up for a budget shortfall) or even completely change (Egypt, Tunsia, and I'm pretty sure we've not seen the last of that.)The countries you mention are more stable, but all have various issues.

Here are just of few of the examples of countries that certainly are treating the US well.Last year expenditures for Pakistan $2.1 billion, Egypt $1.6 billion, and Libya $13 million.

Peter- it is 8 a.m. here in Egypt.

Don't believe me denial is not a river in Egypt.

is America on its way to being one of the great civilization to collapse like Rome, Egypt, and several Chinese dynasties.