My mom makes interpretive panels for state parks and the like. She told me about how a woman she knows told her "overfishing is impossible because God will provide." Fortunately, when she told the woman about places that were suffering from overfishing, including about the near extinction of whales, the woman responded with surprise because she'd simply never heard about this things. Perhaps that's reason for hope.
I am certain, though, that the response of the empire will be to become even more imperial. The easiest things to predict are export quotas on critical things like food and energy, a near shutdown of immigration, and militarization of borders that aren't militarized today. I am absolutely certain the US will tolerate unlimited famine elsewhere before allowing enough of a food or energy price increase here to change the outcome of an election.
Immigrant communities and actual leftists within the US won't tolerate it, though. There will be massive crackdowns on the ensuing protests and direct action, but I don't see how that can prevent massive instability, at least within particular cities.
I am certain, though, that the response of the empire will be to become even more imperial. The easiest things to predict are export quotas on critical things like food and energy, a near shutdown of immigration, and militarization of borders that aren't militarized today. I am absolutely certain the US will tolerate unlimited famine elsewhere before allowing enough of a food or energy price increase here to change the outcome of an election.