Hope that you are right about human nature.

What works in the FAVOR of Los Angeles - in a backwards sort of way - is that it's likely that we will get large local quakes (under the city) before the San Andreas ruptures. Those local quakes, while quite devastating (with casualties), will be the best reminder for people to prepare properly. Hopefully the "city quakes" will also be an excellent reminder for the federal disaster response folks - they need a GOOD PLAN for L.A.

Pete