ASU2003

With all the natural disasters happening around the world, what is the difference between cultures that leads to people waiting in line at grocery stores to buy 10 items in Japan, versus the looting in New Orleans? Why does it seem like New Zealand will clear the rubble and rebuild much faster than Haiti?

I know there has been a lot of 'disaster' preparation in this country with people stockpiling food, guns, and ammo because they don't feel the government will be there to help them. I'm not sure that we wouldn't descend into chaos in this country once the food ran out and people's kids were starving... Yet, it doesn't seem to be happening in Japan. Are they still in shock or too worried about find other loved ones to cause trouble? Or do they have better morals than to steal food if they are hungry? Is a trust in their government and the government being able to organize a plan without dissent part of it? Or is it a politically incorrect reason like a difference in classes, races, education level, or poverty?