Americans who pay attention to the news are starting to fear an imminent collapse of our civilization. Many of them are throwing in the towel before the slow decline, and heading to the countryside for a life of frugal self sufficiency. It's a lot like how ex-smokers can't stop talking about how terrible cigarettes are. That consumer lifestyle I used to lead? I had to give it up.

Read Victoria McMagnus' latest column: Survivalists: Escaping the Modern World