I agree with Scott on this matter.

5 million, or 5 billion people mean nothing, nada, zip to TPTB. They
can control the masses.

It is not even necessary to 'handle' them with all these messy
stuff. Just block the exits and keep the supplies from reaching in.
5 million or 5 billion, the masses die on the vine.

In ancient China, when the pesky peasants rebel every year because
they were hungry, the Chinese Emperor hired Mongol horsemen to quell
them.

And, as I have mentioned before, when the Taiping peasant rebels
tried to overthrow the Manchu dynasty, the Manchus called up Western
troops to silence the masses.

There are lots of trained soldiers around the world who will kill
someone for $5 a pop. TPTB will have no difficulty to find someone
to shoot to the mobs.

P. Kwon of Cal.