"We still live in a very dangerous world."

[kentuck]

This is the reason the government says we have to have the secret programs, the TIA, the CIA, the NSA, satellite technology, drones, etc.

But, we have always lived in a dangerous world.

Are terrorists operating in backward Third World countries really more dangerous than when we had nuclear missiles pointed at every major city in America?

Yes, they may hijack airplanes from time to time. They may try to smuggle a bomb on board in their shoes. They would like to get their hands on a "dirty bomb". They are always conspiring to kill Americans.

But, they don't have the missile technology to launch a nuclear warhead. They don't have the means to spy on our country as we have the means to spy on them.

Yes, there are dangers in the world. But are they really more dangerous than when we could have all been incinerated with a nuclear bomb? Is it possible to put today's threats into perspective?

[graham4anything]

1. We still have that, and now we have 3x that. Now no borders, no walls. Lots of Rogue.

and 4.3 million americans (according to the NRA) have guns and bullets and like to use them

So as Frank Nelson used to say, "Why yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss" indeed it is more dangerous.

Should we though, take the precautions FDR did? Everyone always lauds FDR as the greatest,
Makes me wonder, are people saying we should do what FDR did?
Or as the t-shirt says "What would FDR do?"

[Pholus]

2. You are forgetting how a democracy works is all...

You must blindly trust that things are being done appropriately in our names.

Because to divulge evidence and facts destroys the ability of a drone to fly. We'd show you the proof of that, but it's secret.

And let's not get into how much extra computational power is needed to mine our data records if we're not "clapping for Tinkerbell" while it's happening.

[Democracyinkind]

3. The EU is extremely dangerous for the US....

The initiated know that.

[cali]

4. National Security is big business.

[GeorgeGist]

5. This is paranoia.

[kentuck]

6. Where's AQ on this list??

Surely they spend more than Turkey?

[HereSince1628]

7. It's not a question of worldly condition, it's about our reaction to not having done everything

to protect American security during the Cheney administration...

The national response to being caught as security dilettantes was a shock and awe style over-reaction that devastated foreign lands, ruined our liberties and destroyed our current and future economy by indebting the treasury in an attempt to compensate.

We are not merely one step onto the slippery slope...we are laying painfully bruised at its bottom.

[mick063]

8. Very easy to identify

those that have swallowed the corporate line.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, is done by our government that does not contribute to the share holder's bottom line.


Notice the subtle addition of the word "still" in the title sentence? The profiteers had to insert that word to mitigate their own paranoia, only their fear is not that of terrorists. Their fear is that we run out of enemies. Terrorists are not a stop gap measure for profit. Terrorists perpetuate "threat" forever. Now the profiteers can make an enemy of almost anyone, anyplace, at any time. Just slap on the terrorist label and "instant justification" for giving billions to the mercenary contractors.

[kentuck]

9. Speaking truth to power.

Is anyone listening?

[WinkyDink]

11. Govts are more and more a mere illusion.

[WinkyDink]

10. Indeed we do! Why, rumor has it that SOME countries even illegally invade & bomb sovereign nations!