Are you scared that you or someone you love will be harmed by a terrorist? How much are you willing to borrow to make it so you don’t feel that way anymore? We could keep you and your loved ones under constant surveillance if that would make you feel better.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
14 Comments
Recent Posts
- Day 14: Louisiana Senator Approvingly Compares Trump to Stalin
- Day 13: Elon Musk Flexes His Muscles
- Day 12: While Elon Musk Takes Over, We Podcast With Driftglass and Blue Gal
- Day 11: Harm of Fascist Regime’s Foreign Aid Freeze Comes Into View
- Day 10: The Fascist Regime Blames a Plane Crash on Nonwhite People
I am not now nor have I ever been the slightest bit scared that I or someone I love will be harmed by a terrorist. It is more rational to be scared that I or someone I love will be harmed by someone driving an automobile, or a fall in the bathtub, or by a stray bullet, since the probability of each of those things is far, far greater than being harmed by a terrorist.
People are nuts to let their lives be ruled so much by fear of one of the least likely things.
Well, I’m in a slightly different position than some other people. On September 11, 2001, my wife was scheduled to work at Seattle’s Columbia Tower (now Bank of America Tower, I think) — which had at one time been on the World Trade Center attackers’ list.
So in one sense we dodged a bullet. On the other hand I don’t really think about it much, and I am not all that concerned that the big bad overseas terrists are going to get me.
Now the big bad terrists who say they’re protecting me from the big bad overseas terrists . . . that’s a different story.
Well since I already have a family member that was in a state version of the witness protection program my family knows what it’s like to look into every crowd for someone who wants to hurt you. That’s a healthy response when you’re a specific target but what we all learned was that you simply choose to live smart yourself day to day and you count on one another. But not for a moment would any of us agree to some kind of protective wiretapping or other surveillance because what you also learn is the surveillance mechanism is generally the weakest point.
I am more scared of the thunderstorm raging outside my window right now. I have had two very close calls with lightning in my adult life and I would say the chances are significantly greater that I will have a third close call than an encounter with a terrorist.
So George Bush, please protect me from the lightning!!! It is a real evil-doer.
I say “Bring ’em on”! Weather is on the march, the lightning is on the run!!
I believe it is statistically more likely that you will be harmed by lightening that by a terrorist, so your fear is quite rational than a fear of terrorists.
I live and work in Manhattan. I take the subway most every day. I work in a very busy district, and am out and about town all the time. I was here on 9/11, and was in the path of the smoke cloud in Brooklyn.
New York is not Beirut or Sadr City. I have no fear of being blasted away. Why should I?
Tell me, why should I? Do I have some sick bravado? Hiding in the great numbers who live here? I’m much less likely to lose my life to something out of my control, because I don’t drive, something MOST Americans can’t claim. They are in much more danger than I am.
On 9/11, I screamed and cussed and got hoarse, not from fear for my life, but for the Great Evil I knew would be unleashed by CheneyCo. and his neocon propaganda warriors, and I feared for all the lives of brown people across the globe who’d end up a victim in the aggressions of the US Military.
I have loved-ones in the military, and their Commander-In-Chief is an individual who uses violence, terror, and intimidation to achieve a result, so I guess the answer is “Yes.”
I’m scared the terrorist will attack us to swing the November election to the Republicans. Making the point that terrorist are afraid of a Democrat as President and that terrorist prefer Republican’s who are predictable & fight unnecessary wars like the one in Iraq.
I’m not scared. I just expect it to happen somewhere.
I also expect people (see the comment by Knuckhead) to fall for it again.
Personally, I’m looking forward to constant surveillance.
That’s because i am afraid of the C.H.U.Ds.
No.
$0.
No, thanks.
Company Policies:
Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water.
After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth. Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked.
Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana. Why not? Because as far as they know that’s the way it’s always been done around here.
And that, my friends, is how a company policy begins.
Has anyone seen any ads by Obama? I am worried that McCain is starting to gain traction in Missouri due to running ads around the clock.
.
(The Huffington Post) – The ad begins the task of defining him for the general election audience — of reframing him — before the opposition has the opportunity to do the job.
Some of my posters on New West Notes think the ad should be more exciting. But there will be plenty of time for more excitement. First comes the reassurance that this change-advocating figure is part of mainstream America.
Obama’s ad is 60 seconds long. John McCain’s ad is 30 seconds long. Obama is playing in 18 states: Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Virginia.
McCain is playing in 10 states: Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Iowa, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Missouri.
New ad: Is John McCain the Right Choice for our Future?
Fired-up Missouri
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."