I've decided to stay off the 'net for most of today. Anywhere I click, I wind up reading about Florida and I feel really, really, really bad (three reallies) about what's happening down there. Apart from donating more bucks to Operation USA —
— there's really nothing I can do. Wish there was. I do not understand why Disaster Preparedness is such a non-issue in this country today. It's not like any one of us couldn't have a flood, fire, tremor or other real life Irwin Allen movie in our area. I feel like there are some people who have a genuine problem with the concept of Helping Others. They're so self-obsessed with their own needs and fears that they're bothered by the whole concept of caring about someone who isn't them even if that person is a family member or neighbor.
I understand the idea of being worried for yourself. What I don't get is how that doesn't translate into assisting others; how the notion of everyone helping everyone doesn't strike them as an idea that might be beneficial to them at some point. They like the part where others help them. They just don't like it being attached to any sort of obligation on their part to help others, especially others they don't think of as "my people."
We can't stop these disasters but we can sure as heck build better buildings and better roads and better levees and drainage systems. We can hire and train more First Responders and build more hospitals…and before you say "That costs money," sure. Of course it does. But take a look at the clean-up and restoration costs are going to be for Harvey and Irma and storms to be named at a later date. That costs money too…oh, yes. And human lives.