I don't think "thriving" is the right word, the state never felt secure. And it's a problem, I often call the reaction to terrorism "the East German fallacy",

I don't think "thriving" is the right word, the state never felt secure. And it's a problem, I often call the reaction to terrorism "the East German fallacy", the idea that sweeping spying, denunciations and unfair prosecution makes everybody safer. It doesn't, people were risking their lives jumping the wall. Now it's even worse, there is no wall, there is simply no place you can go without being spyed upon if you are electronically connected.