Polycrisis, continued

In October 2025, the world stands at a precarious crossroads, with warning signs of systemic collapse flashing across economic, environmental, and social spheres. The surge of gold prices beyond $4,000 per ounce is not merely a financial phenomenon but a harbinger of deeper structural issues. Combined with the irreversible economic impacts of climate change, the persistent health crisis of long COVID, and the destabilizing actions of influential figures, these signals point to a civilization teetering on the edge.

Gold’s historic high reflects a profound loss of confidence in the American-led global financial system. Unlike the inflation-driven gold rush of the 1970s, today’s surge is fueled by a confluence of factors: central banks stockpiling bullion, investors fleeing the U.S. dollar, and escalating geopolitical tensions. Commodity analysts like Giovanni Staunovo and Ewa Manthey highlight rising debt, fiscal strain, and eroding trust in institutions as key drivers. Historian Mike Duncan draws parallels to the late Roman Republic, noting rising inequality and institutional decay, while data theorist Peter Turchin warns of a “revolutionary situation” driven by elite overproduction and societal stress. The doubling of gold’s value in the world’s reserve currency, as noted by financial commentator Arnaud Bertrand, historically precedes profound political shifts, signaling a transfer of wealth to elites who hedge with gold while the broader population suffers.

This financial unease is compounded by the fragility of a growth-dependent financial system. As outlined in an analysis on climate-driven economic decline, the modern financial architecture relies on perpetual growth, which is incompatible with the permanent economic contraction induced by climate change. The destruction of physical capital—roads, ports, factories—by extreme weather, coupled with labor losses from heat stress and disease, will trigger a debt-deflation spiral. Incomes will contract, debts will become unpayable, and asset values will plummet, leading to systemic insolvency. Unlike the 2008 financial crisis, this is not a liquidity issue but a universal collateral destruction crisis, with no recovery to an expanding economic baseline.

Climate Change: The Physical Foundation of Collapse

The physical impacts of climate change amplify these financial risks. The analysis on economic decline details how climate change erodes the core components of economic output: capital and labor. Infrastructure is increasingly destroyed by storms, floods, and wildfires, while heat stress and health burdens reduce worker productivity. Models estimate a 20% decline in global GDP per degree of warming, with a projected 3-degree rise by mid-century implying a catastrophic 60% economic contraction. This structural decline undermines the financial system’s assumption of continuous growth, making debts unpayable and triggering a collapse in asset values.

Coal, touted by the Tout-in-Chief as a fallback energy source, faces its own limits. Despite political efforts to revive it, coal production is peaking due to depletion and rising extraction costs. The Honest Sorcerer notes that coal’s role in steel and cement production makes it integral to modern infrastructure, yet its declining availability will exacerbate energy shortages. As coal, oil, and gas reserves dwindle, power grids will become unreliable, leading to a flickering energy supply that further destabilizes economies and societies.

Long COVID: A Hidden Social Crisis

The health crisis of long COVID, as detailed in Rolling Stone, adds another layer of strain. Up to 6 million children in the U.S. have suffered from long COVID, with symptoms like extreme fatigue and brain fog disrupting education and future prospects. Inadequate accommodations and truancy threats compound their struggles. The Trump administration’s cuts to health research and special education funding exacerbate this crisis, leaving millions of affected youth without support. This health burden not only diminishes the labor force but also fuels social disillusionment, particularly among a “knowledge class” excluded from institutional support.

Elite Preparations and Societal Betrayal

As reported by Futurism, tech billionaires like Sam Altman and Mark Zuckerberg are preparing for collapse by stockpiling resources and building bunkers, driven by fears of AI-induced chaos or climate-driven collapse. Jessica Wildfire’s analysis suggests a deliberate strategy by some elites to accelerate chaos, strip social safety nets, and profit from privatized solutions. Bandy X. Lee warns of a “Trump Contagion,” where sociopathic leadership fosters a mafia-like state, using federal agencies to legalize state crimes and suppress dissent. These actions, from firing CDC scientists to violating peace deals, reflect a Malthusian playbook that prioritizes elite survival over collective well-being.

Capitalism’s Role in the Crisis

George Tsakraklides argues that capitalism, far from being a neutral system, amplifies human greed and creates a “necroeconomic” cycle of problem creation and profiteering. This system thrives on instability, turning environmental disasters and social crises into opportunities for profit. However, as resources deplete and climate impacts intensify, capitalism’s promise of stability through exploitation falters, leaving societies vulnerable to collapse.

A Strategy for Survival

The convergence of these crises—financial distrust, climate-driven economic decline, health burdens, and elite betrayal—demands a proactive survival strategy. While individual prepping, as Wildfire suggests, offers temporary relief, long-term survival requires collective action and systemic adaptation. The following strategy balances immediate needs with long-term resilience:

1. Community Building: Form local networks to share resources, skills, and knowledge. Community gardens, mutual aid systems, and localized energy solutions (e.g., small-scale solar or wind) can mitigate supply chain disruptions and energy shortages. These networks counter elite isolationism and foster resilience against economic and environmental shocks.

2. Health Advocacy: Push for recognition of long COVID as a protected disability, ensuring access to education and healthcare accommodations. Grassroots campaigns can pressure schools and governments to restore funding for research and support, reducing the burden on affected youth and families.

3. Economic Diversification: Shift away from growth-dependent financial systems by investing in steady-state economic models. Support policies that prioritize local, sustainable production over globalized, debt-driven consumption. This includes reducing reliance on fossil fuels through decentralized renewable energy and energy-efficient practices.

4. Political Engagement: Counter sociopathic leadership by amplifying expert voices, as Lee suggests, and resisting authoritarian policies like the Insurrection Act. Civic participation, from voting to protests, can challenge elite-driven chaos and demand accountability.

5. Education and Awareness: Educate communities about the interconnected nature of these crises—climate, health, and economic—to combat misinformation and denialism. Platforms can be used to share accurate information and mobilize collective action, countering the destabilizing effects of AI-driven misinformation.

The warning signs of civilizational collapse point to a world where systemic failures are converging. These crises are not isolated but interconnected, driven by a capitalist system that amplifies greed and instability. Survival requires moving beyond individual prepping to collective resilience, building communities that prioritize sustainability, health, and equity. By fostering local networks, advocating for health and education support, diversifying economies, engaging politically, and raising awareness, societies can navigate the transition to a steady-state economy and mitigate the worst of the collapse. The path forward is not utopian but grounded in pragmatic, collective action to preserve human dignity and resilience in a world on the brink.