No. of Recommendations: 8
Even if it's not probable, the fact that it is POSSIBLE is earth shaking on its own. There is much that I thought was never possible that now is, and has me concerned. Things that have us researching our options.
That seems a bit irrational to me. Or at least, a bit indulging in what feels good, rather than an appropriate response to risk. People are very bad at assessing very low-probability risks, and I think this is an example of one.
To illustrate, a typical Canadian is far more likely to choke to death during the next few years than to see their country taken over by the U.S. and become stateless. It's not probable - in fact, it's exceptionally unlikely. But it is POSSIBLE. And there's something you can do about it! It's perfectly possible to switch to an all-liquid diet, which would eliminate the chance of this improbable, but life-ending, event from happening to you! And it would likely have far less disruption on your life than the steps necessary to emigrate.
But you're not considering switching to an all-liquid diet. Neither is mungofitch, I assume. Because even though it's far more likely that you'll die from choking than end up a stateless refugee after Canada is eliminated as a sovereign state, you don't draw any other utility from contemplating that outcome and "researching your options" on how to prevent it. Both choking and the dissolution of Canada are so unlikely that they're not worth taking major steps to prevent them - but latter is more emotionally resonant to think about.
