A lot of the prognosticators who predicted doom as a result of going off the gold standard, beginning with Harry Browne in the 1970's, turned out to be right about the value of precious metals. But it took much, much longer for the inevitable to occur than they predicted because they underestimated the capabilities of establishment managers to keep things moving. The Soviets kept a far more invasive economy than ours going for some 70 years. We are nowhere near where the Soviets were. It will take quite a while before we are.
Personally, I don't see the system collapsing in my lifetime, and I am 60 years old. I do see a gradual tightening of the economy from a free economy to a controlled economy. The smart play for the investor is to have assets on both sides: over the radar and below the radar. But I would not underestimate the establishment. They will do whatever is necessary to protect public employees, public pensions and public institutions. And that includes mass murder and mayhem. Given the weaponry and sophistication they have, I would not be betting against them, nor would I be completely invested with them. As I say, keep some assets under the radar (including foreign countries), and some assets over the radar.
I do agree that this is no time to try to get rich. This is a time to secure what you have.