"They proved that the proactive measures we put in place do in fact work, " he said.

CNN: Ricin scare rattles Washington

On both sides of the Atlantic, quarantine was increasingly replaced by better intelligence and proactive measures.

ECONOMIST: The spread of disease: Germs and money | The

The Met said it had taken proactive measures which had led to there being a drop in crime.

BBC: Met Police says youth violence 'fell 30%' in a year

Among the proactive measures needed: Survey shareholders to assess their ongoing concerns.

FORBES: The Stealth Bombers: Bill Ackman, Bernard Arnault, and the Conundrums of Secret Positions

We will, however, start to be better prepared when we begin to address the above questions and when Congress takes proactive measures that will help counter cybercrime.

FORBES: Congress Needs to Go Back To School on Cyber Legislation

"By increasing their security and capabilities, it will prevent potential future threats to their countries as well as the U.S., " he said, adding that such proactive measures could actually make U.S. deployments unnecessary in the future.

CNN: 'Smart power': Army making cultural training a priority

If there isn't proactive measures taken sooner than later, Bernanke warned the options will be bitter, "higher government spending on health care will, of necessity, require reductions in other government programs, higher taxes, or larger budget deficits, " Bernanke said.

FORBES: Fed Chief Fans Flames On Health-Care Reform

And if the police are engaged in proactive policing measures such as aggressive enforcement of vehicle code standards as a way of showing law enforcement presence and attempting to keep drug dealers out of a neighborhood or a specific area or something.

NPR: Shooting Strains Police-Community Ties in NYC

These latter measures could begin to get companies to be proactive about equal pay, not just asking them to deal with it at the point that a lawsuit is brought against them.

FORBES: Dear President Obama: Want Equal Pay for Equal Work? Here's Where to Start.