Selling Us Fear

Reading about the treasure trove intelligence agents have with the computers, thumb drives, DVD's, etc. found in the home Osama bin Laden was living in Abbottabad, Pakistan, apparently for at least 5 years and probably longer, with some level of assumed knowledge and perhaps protection of the Pakistan government.

Or so says the US government on the latter issue, demanding names of people in the government complicit in his protection and access to the people left in the house when Navy Seals (Team 6) took bin Laden and his son's bodies where they were buried at sea within the expected 24 hour time in Islam tradition.

But my point here is that already the Obama administration is talking about potential threats found in the material, one on the US rail system, supposedly wanting to create a train wreck where hundreds of passengers are killed or injured. Like that hasn't happened already in the history of the rail system in this country?

Or worse, like when trains transporting hazardous gases and chemical derail and create havoc on local populations and serious damage to the environment. And we're worried about one terrorist threat? Really, hyping one threat against the history of rail accidents?

What's the phrase? Give me a break. We all have or still ride the trains, on the same tracks where many trains carry considerable goods and food throughout this country. We ride with the normal expectation of safety and the normal risk of accidents. It's the nature of the world we live in today.

And we should be worried about a terrorist threat? So much the government can and will impose new restrictions on travel and new rules for passengers? Like the wasted crap we have at the airports and airline travel? And we can expect something similar at train stations? Like watch and no travel lists?

Will the government mandate complete and throughout inspections of all rail shipments? Or is the government only wanting to treat passengers, Americans, as potential terrorists? To screen us with more expensive, taxpayer paid, machines and more TSA worker on government payroll?

And the Republicans, the Tea Party and other less govenment advocates will acquiesce because it's protection from terrorists? Like we're all terrorists? Or just the other people they suspect, like democrats and the really radical leftists? And more so those "people" who to them are obvious, those of Middle Eastern heritage or ancestry.

In the end, what this is and what we'll hear more about all this material is just to sell us fear and sell us the government can protect us if only we pay our taxes and give up a few more rights, liberties and protections guarranteed under the Constitution, but that won't stop Congress from passing more and worse versions of the Patriot Act.

All in the name of fighting the endless war on global terorism. And against Americans too. The government thinks we're the enemy and they'll do anything to sell us fear of our enemy knowing it's us they really don't trust. And in some measure they're right, I don't trust the government anymore.

Amazing what fear will do to people and especially governments. To be enemies, the government and its citizens. The war isn't about or against terrorists, it's against Americans and America. Our government against us.