The assumption that the way things have been is the way they will continue to be is the unquestionable tenet at the root of a carefree ideology that can lead to horrid unintended consequences when it all goes down.

People in developed western countries, particularly in the past 80 years, have experienced a level of stability and growth that has rarely been seen. This extremely small sample size of history has led many to bank on the success of their country as a grounding point for all other predictions of the future.

A small dive into the past could show that most nations fail or have changes of ownership fairly often. Nothing in this world is certain, but governments are particularly frail. 

While governments in general should not be given our blind faith, we should be particularly wary of governments that seem to fit into historical patterns of pre-failure. The classic arc of strength to moral laxity and decadence to destruction is one to be particularly wary of, because of how many times it has occurred.

Americans and western Europeans with eyes to see could have very easily noticed how many boxes we check off when it comes to this particular type of societal degradation.

We seem to mirror the fall of Rome in particular with great accuracy. 

The general carefree spirit of the enlightened "world citizen" causes little reflection when choosing investments.

The only question that is asked is, "in the circumstances of the recent past, which investments and type of investments have gained the most value?" 

Stocks typically do quite well when individuals ask such a question. The gains of all stocks lose some luster when they are multiplied by the probability of societal collapse. The punishment for seeking the highest return possible will be meted out on the judgment day when returns become meaningless in comparison to food and water.