How concerned are you about North Korea?

Just when you thought things might calm down, North Korea fires another test missile. We did an informal online survey a couple weeks ago to find out how area residents are feeling about the dangers of a nuclear confrontation. Just more than a hundred people responded. Most still don’t think the U.S. wouild be attacked, but 70 percent say they are now more worried about a possible confrontation.

We’ve presented responses and comments much of the survey; following are results for remaining questions.

We asked, “Do you remember ever practicing civil defense drills?” And 58 percent said they do. Comments:

– I always thought it was interesting to duck and cover under a desk in a class room and having people believe that somehow that would protect us from a nuclear attack. Looking back I know now that it was to teach children to be calm and not terrified in the face of a nuclear strike. It was about making sure our last moments were filled with hope and not terror.

– In the 1940s and 1950s we had civil defense drills, quickly hiding underneath our desks, protecting our heads with our hands and arms. Now that I think about it these were all done when we were in the classroom, nothing was done when we were outside on the playground.

– As a small child in the early ‘60s Cold War era, I remember doing air raid drills and getting under our desks. After hearing adults speak of bomb shelters and living by McClellan AFB with the constant plane activity I was continuously terrified.

– I remember the air raid sirens going off the first Friday of every month for testing when I was in elementary school.

– Yes, when I was a kid, our government used to care about citizens, but no longer!

We asked: “Should there be a civil defense plan and infrastructure to increase the likelihood of survival?” And 72 percent said yes; 28 percent said no.

– Hope for the best but prepare for the worst is a good way to live, I think that being prepared for as many issues as our nation might face is a good idea.

– Living within two miles of Beale, we’re toast, so why practice survival? If we lived a few hours out, it might be a productive effort.

– Are you kidding ... ? We couldn’t even evacuate in a timely or orderly manner during the Oroville Dam fiasco!

– We need civil defense infrastructure badly but our leader has other priorities ... like border walls.

– It would take massive spending and preparation to have meaningful measures.

– Yes, there should be, but it would be astronomically expensive. Unbeknownst to many of us they do have protective shelters for our government officials, and storage of original seeds of all are edible vegetative foods. ...

– I don’t see California politicians being proactive. Look at the state of our roads, dams and other infrastructures.

– What kind of signal would that send; we are preparing for a pre-emptive strike?

We asked: Would you want to survive? And 67 percent said yes; 33 percent said no.

– This is dependent on my proximity to the blast, or course. I would not want to survive just to die a slow death from radiation poisoning. But if I was outside the fallout zone I would want to survive and help as many people as I could.

– Quality of life would be horrible. If my highlight reel has passed, why hang around to watch 40 years of suffering?

– Too old ... let the youth survive.

– Of course, but I’ll not live my life in fear.

– It depends on the extent of the destruction.

We asked: “What would you tell world leaders, in one sentence?” – Be smart, don’t be stupid. – Stop with the “I’m better than you” crap and either learn to get along or ignore each other, all of our nations have internal issues that we need to fix before we add more to our plates, so be grown ups and not petulant children.

– Think of the generations to come.

– North Korea needs to go; it’s outlived its worth to the planet.

– Don’t respond to his bluster. Just like we tell children, walk away from bullies.

– How about a nice game of chess?

– Nuclear war is the end of mankind – Time to ban the bomb. – Stop leaving problems for the next guy to solve.

– Get serious about scaling back; and do something about N.K.

We asked for general comments:

– To acknowledge as legitimate the “threats” the North Korean government has been issuing is to ignore the fact that their international relations MO for decades has been to spew hyperbolic bluster and then back off when things get real.

– Just like during the American Revolution we should display our flag to the world countries; our Gladsten Flag, “DON’T TREAD ON ME” showing a rattlesnake ready to strike. That might put the fear in them.

– North Korea is trying to play poker and bluff us as their country is in shambles and needs aid. Threats have worked to get them support in the past. I really think Trump would attack in response of attacks on American ships, soil or allies.

– If your objective is to eliminate nuclear threats to South Korea, Japan, and, the United States, and you exercise force ,which results in the destruction of South Korea and Japan, then your actions are complete failures. If South Korea, Japan, and North Korea are destroyed, and fallout occurs in North America, how have you “won?”

– I’ve learned to worry not about that which I have none control over. I can only be responsible for my own actions and teach my children the same.

– It will never happen.