The prevelance of these shows stems from the fact that "survival" items, books, and whatnot are selling at a feverish rate. Nationwide the sales at military surplus stores is the best it's been in a decade, it not more. The media hyping how bad the economy is and don't even get started on the scare people are in about the swine flu... all these factors add up to the fact that people are on edge, and will probably be for the foreseeable future. Thankfully this site exists to help separate the wheat from the trash. Just the insights I've learned from the level-headed and prepared souls who share this site let me sleep better at night. These shows are about ratings and advertising dollars after all, so if they can manipulate public opinion and heighten the sphincter factor, all the better.

My 2 cents.....YMMV.