The Media
Answering Nº1 post, everyone prefers to solve popular problems. It happens with the third world, too; people prefer to save a poor South-American than save a poor British kid, basically because the South-American is on the TV.
People are more concerned about Maddie than they are about much worse cases that are around, basically because Maddie is on the TV.
People are more afraid of flying then driving, even though driving is 500 times more dangerous, basically because a plane crash gets on TV. (had to add this ‘cuz this topic has nothing to do with aviation...)
People (including the government) are more interested in Afghanistan and Iraq then in ANY inner affair, because Iraq and Afghanistan are on the TV.
Communications Media have all the power.
Matt D. Lewis