RE: Survivalist Mentality
While I agree it is a mentality issue, I don't think a survivalist mentality is what's required.
One defining characteristic of Americans to the outside world is that they are very pidgeon-holed in the functions they'll fulfill. They have FEMA to supply emergency provisions, so no-one else does it. A defining characteristic of those who survive disasters is that everyone does whatever it takes.
In Australia, Prince Charles was "attacked" in 1994 with a starter pistol (it turned out). Several people jumped the attacker, including an Australian politician. If you said that of an American politician, no one would believe it, not due to a lack of courage, but because it's someone else's job to do that.
America's early pioneers had this attitude, and unfortunately it seems to have been lost over time.
My $0.02 worth.
