Weblog
08/12/02 11:04 PM: In Perspective
It’s been over eleven months since the attacks that shocked America. Since then, many changes have occurred, changes that affect many people on a day-to-day basis. However, one needs to put the reaction to the attacks in perspective.
The attacks of September 11 were carried out by a group of extremists who had planned said attacks for a long period of time. However, one must look at the facts. The method of attack was quite simple, using our own airplanes against ourselves. When you think about it, this was the best they could do. It wasn’t exactly the most scientific or advanced attack ever carried out.
Should we make an effort to bolster security where it is practical, and make sure to be more vigilant? Of course. However, is the solution going to be found with hundreds of billions of dollars blown on what will become yet another inefficient government agency?
This report from UPI addresses this issue.
From the article, “I basically think we are really overreacting to this in a fairly large way,” said George Mason University economist Roger Congleton. “I think it would be useful for the press and the government to be reminded that the risks are not as gigantic as we seem to have been encouraged to believe over the last year.” “When you have 3,000 people killed at once it is a very shocking and trying event, but that many people were killed in highway accidents in September 2001,” said Congleton. “This is no less shocking for the people who lost loved ones.”
This makes a clear and valid point. While the events last year were indeed shocking, that does not necessarily amplify the risk of future attacks. If anything, with the actions abroad, especially in Afghanistan, the risk of future attacks would be less than in say, August 2001.
Overreactions meant to appease and calm people in the wake of 9/11 will only have consequences we may all regret in the future.
Congleton believes that the declaration of war may lead the government to overstep societal boundaries with unwarranted “drastic new domestic policies,” given the potential threat.
“However, given the risks that we currently face and have faced for decades, discouraging criminal forms of political expression can be—and should—be accomplished within our existing Constitutional framework,” he writes.
