JOURNAL: A Spectrum of Security

Here's an example (that ties into the fires in Greece below): a story in the NYTimes, August 28, by William Yardley called, "Wealthy Get Extra Shield for Wildfires."

Security has always been a function of money and location, but we could always assume a base level of security from the government. That appears to be evaporating (as with Katrina, where private military contractors were flown in to protect the homes of the wealthy). As a result, security is now being built into the global systems that support the wealthy that jet between lily pads -- with a new emphasis on protection from black swans (unexpected disasters). As this matures, the market for security services will soon match (and likely exceed) the rapidly widening spectrum of care we currently see in health services. Granted, it's the free market at work, but this system locks in critical but scarce services for those that can pay a premium in advance. The antidote for the rest of us? A resilient community -- collective self help.