my cynical side worries about "Lord of the Flies."

I understand, and I agree that your worry is legitimate. "Lord of the Flies" is so disturbing because it speaks a truth. Tribalism can be like that, and we humans have spent the vast majority of our history in that darkness.

But to continue the peptalk: That tribe in New Orleans was truly isolated only a little while, not long enough to develop a true LOF pathology. It's already emerging into the light, making connections with surrounding people, and will soon be subject to strong outside pressure to conform to the rules of civilization. I'd expect only isolated outbreaks of the Lord of the Flies problem, but I have faith that the vast majority of those tribes are on the fasttrack to reintegration, and in most places civiliation will reestablish itself so fast it'll make your head spin...on historical timescales, of course. Overall I'm optimistic.

And hey, Tom, we're a tribe here too. We're not doing so badly, right?