For many reasons, some underhanded and some for our benefit, the central planners like to concentrate the people. Historically, this tended to make sure you survived when my barbarian ancestors came to steal your cattle and burn your villages. It also then tended to create problems too because you need land to grow food and a place to dump waste and wholesome sunshine if you want to be healthy. Like most things, it has its ups and downs, and current events cast light on some o’ the disadvantages.
Ebola has come to Dallas. This is a problem for many reasons. Dallas is a major metropolitan area. Dallas is also a major hub for many airlines. While it’s not the center of civilization like London or New York, it is the center of our nation in some ways, and it illustrates the threat. A single infected person who knowingly put others at risk did so clandestinely, and he came in contact with hundreds of people who unknowingly put hundreds of others at risk just going about their business. When the plague swept Europe, it hit the countryside too, but when it hit a major city or even the Royals, none were spared because they were rich or titled or famous or smart. Keeping us together keeps us at risk.
People in an urban area tend to be unaware of their immediate neighbors. Watch as many Law and Order episodes as you like, and you will see that people know only superfluous information about the people closest to them geographically. Since we have the shortest distance and greatest exposure to our immediate neighbors in an urban area, it is usually from them that we stand the most risk. It is near neighbors who, despite seeing me the same days and the same times, nearly hit me while I run or bicycle or drive. We don’t know anything about the people near us. While my ancestors in the west ran the risk that a visitor might be there to take what they had by force, you could usually see the neighbors coming. If you can see them, you can stop them before they put you at risk.
If something happens, most urban areas are not self sufficient or safe. Consequent to urbanization, the farms move further from the residents, and even those who have their own gardens run the risk of being overrun for what they do have when famine follows any kind of disaster. When people are hungry, the last thing they do is go to work for “the good of the people” despite how much they claim that when things are good. What they really do is look out for their own families. Think back to Hurricane Sandy when in New Jersey people shat in the hallways and garbage piled up everywhere. There was nothing to eat because the roads were closed and the stores were empty. Civil order broke down, and the people took whatever sporting goods they could find to defend their families in the dark and dank and dangerous night. Fearful people are panicky people, and that can become a problem.
People are a catch-22: you can’t really live without them, but they are the ones who cause you the most trouble. The good thing is that most people would like to be good if given the chance. No matter what the dramatizations on TV or the news reports show, good people will show up when tragedy strikes. In an urban area, that means they can get there sooner, because they are closer. So what do you do? Meet your neighbors. Become part of your community. Stay close to your family. Make a plan. Get ready. If we all play to our talents, then we can weather any storm.
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