One reason the possibility of such madness is less likely is because we have power and fuel and we typically have enough to eat and drink. Another important factor is that we are an armed people, a citizenry made up of people who will not be oppressed. One can speculate how things might have been different right here in America had we been unarmed and did not possess the fighting mindset. How things would be different if Americans did not possess the strength, confidence and self reliance that being armed provides. Sure it could.
People are people.
But it is just as likely to get it's ugly head shot right off. Blown off by American gun owners who would stand and fight. Only because we are armed are we free. Because we are armed we can prevent so many of the nasty events that have afflicted our fellow humans in places where arms are disallowed. Because we have the Second Amendment, we can protect with arms the other freedoms stated in our Bill of Rights.