From the front page of today's Akron Beacon Journal:

[url]http://www.ohio.com/home/docs_news/018040.htm[/url]

Emergency plans can relieve stress

There is a difference between paranoia and preparedness.

Paranoia is a gas mask. Preparedness is clean water.

Paranoia is a gun. Preparedness is a battery-powered radio.

For Jamie Bricker, an emergency services specialist with the Summit County Red Cross, it's not being an alarmist to tell families to be prepared for the unexpected. That advice always makes sense -- because you really can't predict the next tornado, house fire or power outage.

. . . most people accept they can do little to get ready for this new national emergency.

Yep, nothing to do but BOHICA.  Anything you'd do to prepare would brand you as one of the tin-foil hat brigade.
Funny thing is, I once used my National Guard issued gas mask when there was a chemical spill near a place I worked.  Everyone else got terrible headaches.  Who's paranoid now!

I've had to use my gun to kill food when I could not afford to buy any...

"Paranoia is a fishing rod."

"Paranoia is a tennis racket."

"Paranoia is a Big Bertha."

etc.

This comes from the same people who believe a cell phone is the best form of self defense.  I remember in the LA riots when people called 911 and were told that police would not be coming.  Those who are prepared by their definition better stock up early on headstones captioned "I called 911".  I must be paranoid for believing in the boy scout definition of preparedness.  If I never have to use a gun in self defense, it will end up with my radios, water filters, camp stoves, flashlights, etc in the bag of stuff that I'd rather have and not need than need and not have.

This didn't make the news, but after the second plane hit the WTC, black teens stormed a NYC bus, started beating the driver, and engaging in general "wilding".  This is from an eye-witness.

Now imagine trying to evacuate from a built up, urban area, after a tac-nuke popped, a few miles away.  Panicked mob.  

Actually, Freud had something to say about this:

"A fear of weapons is a sign of a retarded mental and sexual development."

-- Sigmund Freud

Hey, that's ok.  When the SHTF, us "paranoid" people just need to find some "prepared" people and "ask" nicely for the items we need.

Or do those morons really think everyone is going to be nice if/when anarchy every hits?