I think things did change after 9/11, Americans lost their collective minds.

[Cleobulus]

What the fuck happened to the idea of taking reasonable precautions against risk and danger?

Seriously, everyday you wake up you risk getting killed in the most horrible ways, yet I don't see everyone leave their homes in SWAT gear.

It gets even worse when you enter the car, for tens of thousands of people die every year from accidents, many of which were caused by drunk drivers, yet we still haven't required all cars to have Breathalyzers installed, how can we be so reckless? Of course, you could take the train or bus, but you could be knifed, shot or blown up.

Next, what about workplace and school safety, most of them don't require strip searches or even pat Downs, and yet we still go, every day. Yet think of the shootings that have occurred at both over the years.

The fact is that everyday we face risks to our lives, and we try to reduce them while preserving freedom as well, but now, since 9/11, we seem to think that the relatively low risk of terror attacks on airplanes is so great that we should sacrifice everything for it. Yet put this in perspective, you are more likely to die on the way to the airport than on the plane, and that was before the draconian measures were implemented.

[slackmaster]

1. Politicians think they have to create the impression that they are "doing something" about every...

...perceived problem.

[moondust]

17. Well, they know that if something "gets through" they'll take a big hit.

So it's CYA.

[slackmaster]

20. It would be great if they actually did something that would increase safety of air travelers

How many actual terrorists has TSA stopped in pre-boarding screenings?

Have they caught one yet?

[abelenkpe]

2. Yes we did lose our minds

Actually I think more than 50 percent of the nation was still in shock from the last presidential election then 9/11 happened and everyone went completely insane.

The TSA thing is nuts.

Can't believe there was a poll suggesting 2/3 of Americans are OK with that. I mean, really?

[ananda]

3. This is shock doctrine crap. It's about the money.

Next thing you know airport security will be privatized.

[Canuckistanian]

4. I remember thinking on 9/11....

... that the die-hard Republicans were going to go INSANE. Which of course, they did.

But I never would have dreamed that so many ordinarily-sane Americans would go along with them.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. people were scared

[liberal N proud]

5. Fear was pumped through our veins and broadcast 24/7

Shouts of you are either with us or against us and you don't question a sitting president during war were all we heard.

Code orange was implemented and we were told they were going to attack us at any moment again.

Yes we were all victims of propaganda and fear.

Maybe we this will signal the end of that era and we will once again rise up when someone treads on us.

[OneGrassRoot]

21. That's it. 24/7 media mantra...Shock Doctrine...the whole thing. n/t

[FiveGoodMen]

22. "Shouts of you are either with us or against us"

It was worse than that.

Bush said, "Either you're with us or with the terrorists".

That's really a much bigger accusation than "or against us".

[liberal N proud]

6. Duplicate - Delete

[liberal N proud]

7. Triplicate - Delete

[BeFree]

8. Hyperbole much?

"Sacrifice everything" ?!?!?!

Going thru a scanner is sacrificing everything? mmmmm, no.

[PufPuf23]

9. If we went back to slightly modified 2000 airline standards,

destroyed the Department of Homeland Security, and stop the War on Terror; we could have quality Universal Health Care and monies for a WPA/CCC/CETA jobs program to improve domestic quality of life of future.

We would need honest brokers in politics. media, religion, and economics.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. putting things into perspective - more chance of being run over by a bus

than being killed in a terrorist attack. We have to thank Bush for all the fear he put in people with his propaganda.

[roamer65]

12. Bin Laden is getting exactly what he wants.

Just like he got a broken-up Soviet Union, he will soon have a broken-up United States.

[RKP5637]

14. Yep, we are playing into his hands again. n/t

[RKP5637]

13. MSM helped sell the bill of goods on fear and the profiteers have

discovered good bottom lines in fear, hence many are stoked up constantly. Also, I don't think any president wants the next 9/11 if one to happen on their watch. It's all illogical, like most things anymore. So we perpetuate fear. Caution is one thing, but this is fear.

[flvegan]

15. ...and we sold it to the world.

Go on and laugh, bin Laden. Mission Accomplished, thanks George W Bush. The MSM has simply piggybacked every possible FEAR!!! topic on to it. Seriously, watch the "news" and it's nothing more than a bullet list of shit to worry about, new and old.

[mix]

16. What happened to reason itself?

American Berzerk

[uppityperson]

18. K&R, good post.

[pscot]

19. Americans lost their nerve

We're afraid to go to sleep woithout a gun under our pillow. Pathetic.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

23. An endless supply of bogeymen keeps the populace in line and obedient.

Not mention eager and willing to send troops to kill people they don't know and have nothing personal against.

[Odin2005]

24. A frightened populace is an obedient populace.

Our society has become a bastard child of 1984 and Brave New World.

[earth mom]

25. I wish people would get a clue that big brother is the REAL terrorist here in the USA.

:argh:

[Swamp Rat]

26. Sayonara Cleobulus

:hi:

[Steely_Dan]

27. As I've Stated Often...

Every time we give up a freedom in the name of security, the terrorists win. They must be laughing their asses off.

-P