Do you really think it's the meek inheriting the Earth? I'm not sure I'd describe the middle class characters that inherit the Earth as meek, because the meek can't save themselves without a Strong Leader to order them around. Or maybe it's the meek +1 Alpha.
As for what happens in natural disasters - I think it's true that many of the poor would die (though probably not all), but I think both the rich and middle class would be equally likely to get to higher ground. I mean, it never ceases to surprise me how few post-apocalypses involve the survival of people like the President or some King/Queen - no way those people are "dying on their feet," they're the first in the super-secure bunker. It's true that the loss of an economy might be a greater shock to a wealthy person, but the average wealthy person would still have Lots of Things, and I think it comes down to temperament as to whether a rich or middle class person would adjust to life afterward.
Did the natives return to a semi-traditional way of life? Weird. Former European colonies wanted to emulate colonist power, but I don't know much about Rome. Of course, the need to return America to what it was before the bombs dropped in Alas, Babylon could also be interpreted as a return to a semi-traditional way of life, where the strong rule over fiefdoms (not saying that's what happens since I haven't read it, just saying semi-traditional could mean a lot of things, and not everyone benefits from living an un-modern lifestyle). One man's nostalgia is another man's nightmare.
no subject
Do you really think it's the meek inheriting the Earth? I'm not sure I'd describe the middle class characters that inherit the Earth as meek, because the meek can't save themselves without a Strong Leader to order them around. Or maybe it's the meek +1 Alpha.
As for what happens in natural disasters - I think it's true that many of the poor would die (though probably not all), but I think both the rich and middle class would be equally likely to get to higher ground. I mean, it never ceases to surprise me how few post-apocalypses involve the survival of people like the President or some King/Queen - no way those people are "dying on their feet," they're the first in the super-secure bunker. It's true that the loss of an economy might be a greater shock to a wealthy person, but the average wealthy person would still have Lots of Things, and I think it comes down to temperament as to whether a rich or middle class person would adjust to life afterward.
Did the natives return to a semi-traditional way of life? Weird. Former European colonies wanted to emulate colonist power, but I don't know much about Rome. Of course, the need to return America to what it was before the bombs dropped in Alas, Babylon could also be interpreted as a return to a semi-traditional way of life, where the strong rule over fiefdoms (not saying that's what happens since I haven't read it, just saying semi-traditional could mean a lot of things, and not everyone benefits from living an un-modern lifestyle). One man's nostalgia is another man's nightmare.