The reason so many people don't prepare can be summed up by something my first girlfriend in college said. Don't mean to offend anyone by talking about something personal, but here goes...

Our relationship quickly developed into a sexual one. First time for either of us. Early on, I suggested that she consider some form of birth control, as I was doing my part. She said, "I think that would make it too real..."

Most people IMHO don't want to think about preparing because "that would make it too real." As Doug mentions in "Prepared to Survive", a lot of people think it will always happen to the other guy. Chances are, at least once in our lives, we will be "the other guy".

My girlfriend chose not to use birth control while I continued to. When she got pregnant, she found out how "real" things could get.

Always assume you'll be the other guy...plan for that, and you'll be a lot better off.

I'll not soon forget what one young woman in NYC said right after that massive power outage: "Well, if we prepare for it to happen again, it's like we're admitting that it will happen again", or something very similar to that.

Stupid is as stupid does... or doesn't...

Sue

It won't happen to me

It's the Government's job to help me.

It's the "trained professional"'s job to help me.

The first is simple human nature, deny non-urgent risks. If it won't affect me today and it won't affect me tomorrrow, why worry about it, I have enough to worry about as it is.

The second and third are products of our more urban-centered attitudes. They are also a product of education. We have been "educated" that it is the government's job, via it's "trained professionals" to come to our rescue intimes of need..

We need to face facts, that's not the way the (U.S.) governemtal system is supposed to work. FEMA does not and can not ride into town on white horses to rescue us from our problems. They are supposed to respond to a State's call for assistance.... Well, I'm probably preaching to ther choir....

I need to get a soapbox.