If you ever wonder why many cities and municipalities are broke, think about Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

If leaders can’t control their spending habits in their personal lives, how can anybody expect them to be good public servants?  One prime example of this is the outgoing Mayor of Los Angeles.  Apparently Antonio Villaraigosa spent money as fast as it came in and is now actively looking for a job once his term ends.  He is well-connected and will land a good job somewhere, but the city and people he leaves behind won’t be so fortunate.

Earlier in his second term, Comptroller Wendy Gruel issued a report stating that the city faced an “urgent financial crisis” and would be unable to pay its bills in a matter of weeks.  Even though the immediate crisis was averted, the underlying conditions remain.  The combination of high debt, lavish benefits, comfortable retirements, and fiscal irresponsibility still exist in Los Angeles, a condition that is likely to continue until the city can’t borrow any more.

Think about this for a moment, do you trust governments that can’t control their own spending and are led by irresponsible people?  As Tim Carney wrote the other day, the game is rigged against regular people.  Mayor Villaraigosa and others can leave behind a wreck for others to clean up and face no adverse consequences for their actions.  They don’t care if city services degrade and the livability of their cities suffers, its on to the next well-paying job and greater prestige.

So what does a regular person do?

Well, it start by realizing that government won’t always be there for you when things go wrong.  You won’t be able to count on bankrupt cities to come to your aid, the alternative is to rely upon yourself, your neighborhood, and your communities to address urgent needs.  Preparation is a process, and it starts with the realization that you have to take responsibility for yourself.  This does not mean individuals become selfish or isolated, quite the contrary in fact.  A prepared individual becomes an asset to the community he or she lives in.  As more citizens become involved in becoming prepared, the communities they reside in become more resilient and connected.

This can start with minor steps like having a 3-day supply of food and water allocated for emergency use.  It can also include wearing ID bands with important medical information etched on them.  Another steps is having extra flashlights, radios, and batteries handy for when the power goes out.  The key is to being taking small steps towards becoming better prepared.  Realize that this is an ongoing journey that will yield rewards even if disaster never strikes.  Governments won’t be there to save you, its time to take ownership of your safety and security.