This well written article on a life-or-death topic deserves 'comment' (and praise). I think the Collaboration aspect of this may be one of the underlying hidden strengths. When de Tocqueville visited and wrote about early American communities (Democracy in America, 1835,'40) he noted a unique 'grow your own organization' propensity among American communities. Such communities, compared to Euro-French ones, were much less reliant on Crown Control or control by "bureau" (Big Government). I think maybe that is 'what is working' here. That odd "thousand points of light" of the Bush-presidency (neo-con copout) is actually a 'community resiliency' that sort of works in the way the Silicon Valley innovation microcosm can work in technology. (I note that semiconductor technology And internet technology both had HUGE gov investments)