Fallout

[unixronin]

Specifically, fallout from our government having spent close to every day of the last ten years since 9/11 telling us to be afraid.  No, more afraid than that.  Come on, let's see some FEAR here! ...What do you mean, you're not afraid?  You some kinda commie pinko ay-rab muslim jihad turrrrist or sumthin'?

As Bruce Schneier keeps saying, REFUSE TO BE TERRORIZED.  By our own government, or by anyone else.

As he points out in one of the links in the article of his I just linked to there, to justify our current level of Homeland Security spending we would have to foil 1,667 Time Square-style plots per year.  (Clearly we're not getting enough terror plots for our money.  Quick, hire more FBI agents-provocateur...)  Lots of good links in that post.

Comments

[ithildae]

But, I am afraid. I am afraid of the desk jockies in government who see this as a chance to consolidate powers and control over resources. I am afraid for the liberties I desire to leave to my children, as an example of how great this country really is. I am afraid of overlapping rules and regulations that make it impossible to make money or live, without breaking the law in some way a creative brief will spell out. Anonimnity and prosecutorial discretion are the only things keeping me out of jail.

After that, I am afraid that I will not be able to use my expertise to earn a living, due to Imaginary Property laws. My cash reserves are inadequate to any challenge.

Every point I have mentionedhas been made more perrilous by the changes since 9.11.01. Nobody cares but me. I am part of a nation under constant attack from a demographically small group, but we cannot legally profile members of the attacking group, because, well, that is discrimination.

I am restricted and inconvienced in most aspects of my life, so that those who are like my attackers do not feel targetted.

I am fearful, and I am mad as a wet hen. I am ready to chew nails and spit chain-link fences. I am not just beside myself, I am triplets!

I want my country back! I want my kids to study Paul Bunian, Pecos Pete, Wild Bill, Ozark and Indian tales, so they can learn the character of their own culture. In spite of what our president may believe, this is a very good country, indeed. If you need help, we've got you covered. If you are causing trouble, we've got you covered. We havereasonably free markets to raise standards of living. Or,... We did. I want the chance to fail. I miss it. With it, I have a limitless chance to succeed. I am ready for another Google. Aren't you?

[unixronin]

+lots.

[merlinpendragon]

The only real fear that I have is - I'm afraid OF OUR GOVERNMENT. It was bad enough already, but now our courts are getting as bad as the rest of the system (arguably, they are at times even worse).

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/chicago/man-hounded-child-support-20-years-not-kid-113952562.html;_ylt=ApNix4YWULx8MpdKLq9CcS9tzwcF;_ylu=X3oDMTRodDFpZXY2BGNjb2RlA2dtcHRvcDIwMHBvb2xyZXN0BG1pdANOZXdzIGZvciB5b3UEcGtnA2VlZTA0MGU1LTI1M2MtMzg4OS04MDkxLTY1Y2U0YTU3MDAwNwRwb3MDMQRzZWMDbmV3c19mb3JfeW91BHZlcgM3OWM2NTJjMC1kZjkwLTExZTAtYjdlZi02ZWQxMmZlYmYxOTE-;_ylg=X3oDMTJyYXZiMGcwBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDZTlkN2I4MzYtMTkzNS0zMzg0LTgzMjMtYzI2NGZiZDg1NDkwBHBzdGNhdAN1cwRwdANzdG9yeXBhZ2UEdGVzdAM-;_ylv=3

Remember, these are the same kind, caring, conscientious government employees who will be administering your health care benefits when ObamaCare kicks in.

To quote Wednesday Adams, "Be afraid. Be very afraid."