Economic collapse avalanche?

I have been watching Europe go through the financial upheavals of late and am getting that "here we go" feeling! The US is printing money and borrowing money at a record rate. The 'financial cliff' that our government is facing in January along with the current lack of economic growth leads to a very negative outlook.
So in keeping with the previous posts and my concern for the future I would like to encourage you to get ready for a real roller coaster ride.
Let's add the uncertainty of the food supply since we have had a drought in the Midwest for a year with floods that also destroyed crops, farms and moved river paths in the North.
Overall their are quite a lot of reasons to gather a few items that might make the future little more palatable.
If you have never researched this subject I would suggest that you look on the internet for subjects like "Beginning to prep" or Urban preparedness or on YouTube for Preparedness videos.
Even if you just 'copy-can' when you go to the store that would be a beginning. Copy-can is the act of buying two cans of your normal can goods instead of just one. That way you have some stand-by in the case of a supply issue or prolonged storm and you can't get to the store.
Dependent on your geographical location having back up clothing on hand or additional water stored up may be of some comfort during an event outside of 'normal'.
All that preparation consists of is: Thinking about what you might need, could use or should have in case "something" happens out of the ordinary or the storm lasts longer or is more powerful than 'normal'.
Here are current big "IFs": If the European crisis ricochets from country to country this 'avalanche' will affect world markets which will affect the american market as well. So our current poor economical outlook could turn into a complete economic collapse.
So all I am saying is maybe us 'preppers' aren't as crazy as some imagine? Maybe we have seen what has occurred in the Balkans, Beirut and Africa when social order disintegrates, civility turns in to aggression and its the survival of the meanest. nastiest and toughest. 
Alright, so now that I have painted such a dismal picture. There are ways in which to prepare for just about everything else that could happen. Of course the truth of the matter is survival is a multi-layered field of study that is as simple as carrying a few items with you in case of an emergency to gathering an entire community of like minded folk to prepare against the possible collapse of society into WROL or Without rule of law.
Never the less, you should at least have a few basic items on hand, just in case.
Ed