[wintertime]

Unlike the Zambezi villagers, Fagan had access to the outside modern world that could supply him Nestle chocolate, canned Spam, rolled oatmeal, powdered milk and whatever else he needed.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Why are the villagers starving and Fagan is not?

Answer: The Zambezi villagers have a morally corrupt government. The villagers themselves may be morally corrupt.

Fagan on the other hand has the benefit of a society that includes the following:

1) Free markets

2) Respect of private property.

3) Honest courts and police to put criminals in jail, enforce contracts, and defend the citizen's private property.

4) An honest arm to defend the borders and repel invaders.

5 A morally sound populace with the goodwill to cooperate with each other and a commitment to make it work.

[Donald Meaker]

Don't forget modern firearms which encourage even those without ethics to at least act like they have them.

"Blunderbuss: A short weapon with a wide mouth or bell, capable of discharging multiple balls or slugs, now superceded in civilized countries by more advanced weaponry.:

Oxford English Dictionary, 1932.

[Mr. Silverback]

Wintertime, you're dead on. And here's a big factor:

5 A morally sound populace with the goodwill to cooperate with each other and a commitment to make it work.

Cripplecreek is right, if you cut off the food from L.A. it would look like a Snake Pliskin movie in a week...but consider that the people who make the food would never want to starve a city. That's why famine is a way of life in Africa and pretty much unknown in the West.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

Civilization gives the means for the physically weaker and more intelligent man to kill the physically stronger and less intelligent...

“It is our wits that makes us men.”