Hyperinflation or an economic collapse for a million different reasons would most definitely cause that to be a realistic situation.
Let me elaborate:
Many of my relatives have experienced Russia's economic collapse in 1998. Which was an
economic disaster. A friend of my father's, who owned a small company, went
hundreds of thousands of dollars in the red because he had taken out semi-legit loans to buy government bonds, and the Russian government defaulted. He had to actually
go into hiding at one point.
But there was not massed starvation in the 1929-vein. This was not because Russia is some magical country that wisely prevented such things. It was because the level of wealth in Russia - limited although it was to that of a modern country - was more than what had existed in America in 1929. In fact, economic growth everywhere has made practically any semi-modern country wealthier in real terms than America n 1929. And note that today, 12 years later, Russia - although not wealthy on a European level - has recovered from its post-default crisis.
Understand, please, what I am saying. I am not saying people will not suffer. I am saying that the suffering will not be as apocalyptic as foretold.
His massive make work public projects kept getting him re-elected. Human nature doesn't change, and bread and circuses still work.
Just frame your promotion of freedom as bread, circuses, and class warfare then.
Talk bout the multi-billion dollar megacompanies that benefit from big government.
Talk about the highly-overpaid government officials that make decisions for poor people on their behalf.
Talk about cutting the price of gas, for instance. That's always a winner.
