What would it look like for our govt. to collapse under its own weight?

Idk if anyone has thought about it by I'm reading a book currently called the patriot. It's about a complete socioeconomic collapse in the US. It's writtin by a ex-military guy names James Rawles I believe. The story is more so you can see how you should/ would be prepared for this kind of thing. Honestly though, the beginning sounded eerily similar to what's going on right now.