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Terrorism is the gravest threat facing the American people today because small numbers of people acting violently have the ability to sway a populace to do irra
by dstorrs 17y ago
Terrorism is the gravest threat facing the American people today because small numbers of people acting violently have the ability to sway a populace to do irrational things.
Just to be sure I'm reading you correctly, I think you're saying that you _agree_ that yes, terrorism is the gravest threat facing the US right now. Furthermore, the reason that it's the gravest threat is because a few terrorists "have the ability to sway a populace to do irrational things".
If so: horse hockey.
As to the first part, a person's odds of being personally affected by terrorism are infinitesimal, especially if you don't live in NYC, Washington, LA, or San Fran.
Yes, it only takes a few terrorists to commit an attack. But how we react to it is entirely up to us; they have no power to "sway" us into irrational acts--that has been purely the choice of our leaders and media, who have used the fear of terrorism as a way to build their own powerbase and advance their own agendas. I do not know ONE SINGLE private citizen who is actually afraid of terrorists, despite having zero confidence in our TSA and security procedures.
- mnemonicsloth 17y agoa person's odds of being personally affected by terrorism are infinitesimal, especially if you don't live in NYC, Washington, LA, of San Fran. The attack that took place 7 days ago targeted Detroit International Airport. that has been purely the choice of our leaders and media, who have used the fear of terrorism to build their own powerbase and advance their own agendas. In other words, political and opinion leaders have responded to terrorism rationally, advancing their own interests while plausibly satisfying their respective job descriptions. Expecting them to suddenly ignore their goals and incentive structures is corrosive and naive. Yes, even if those incentives were altered by violent bad actors. Yes, even if the manipulation is obvious. I do not know ONE SINGLE private citizen This is a statement about you and your circle of acquaintances. For information about the body politic, I'll take the word of the Gallup Organization: http://www.gallup.com/poll/124892/Prior-Bomb-Scare-Worry-Terrorism.aspx http://www.gallup.com/poll/124892/Prior-Bomb-Scare-Worry-Ter... Despite everything else that happened in 2009, 40% of people were still worried about terrorism before the bombing attempt. Now that number isn't going to drop below 50% for a long time. Who's going to make a pariah of himself by telling the public that it's being irrational?
- dagw 17y agoI'm personally affected by terrorism every time I cannot bring a bottle onto a plane or have to go through any sort of needlessly onerous procedure in the name of protecting us from the terrorists. Being killed by a bomb is just a minor part of terrorism.
- jamesbritt 17y ago"As to the first part, a person's odds of being personally affected by terrorism are infinitesimal, especially if you don't live in NYC, Washington, LA, or San Fran." The OP was claiming that it is incorrect to state, as the article does, that "effects of terrorism" == body count. Any time I fly I suffer the effects of terrorism because I'm now forced to spend an extra few hours engaged in security theater. I get additional delays driving along the US southern boarder as well. I have politicians looking to restrict my means of expression because of supposed fears of terrorism. Now, even granting all that, I don't know that this is the gravest threat facing the USA, but the opportunistic reactions to terrorism certainly is a major problem that affects people daily.