The paranoia is no longer prevalent, but I don't think this has much bearing on the underlying risk that exists regardless of the degree of awareness by the gen

The paranoia is no longer prevalent, but I don't think this has much bearing on the underlying risk that exists regardless of the degree of awareness by the general population. One of the only reasons MAD has held up is because we've successfully restricted the reach of nuclear weapons, i.e. if every country that wanted them could get them, the average person would have a lot more reasons to be paranoid.