I think they are serious. As far as I can tell, the American City Business Journals organization doesn't have a sense of humor. "A new report by the U.S. Army War College talks about the possibility of Pentagon resources and troops being used should the economic crisis lead to civil unrest, such as protests against businesses and government or runs on beleaguered banks. 'Widespread civil violence inside the United States would force the defense establishment to reorient priorities in extremis to defend basic domestic order and human security,' said the War College report. The study says economic collapse, terrorism and loss of legal order are among possible domestic shocks that might require military action within the U.S."  I guess I'm not the only one looking down the road and projecting that Generation Greed will bring this country and, in particular, this state, to the point of institutional collapse.