Benjammin,

While the world has gotten worse, here in the U.S.A., there are some things that we have that the rest of the world doesn't. FIrst we have a constitution and bill of rights that is supposed to guard us, as citizens, from governmental tyranny,and iIt works pretty well.

Second most states have passed right to carry legislation, so the idea of pulling a car over and terrorizing the occupants is reduced. I believe the statistics are that for every woman that gets a carry permit four are protected as the bad guys don't know who is who.

Third we have had "extremists" in the United States since it was founded. It causes occasional problems, but there has been a marked decrease in "radical" activity in the last five years. A much bigger threat to our society is the growing methamphetamine problem. From labs producing four to five times the toxic waste to "product" and the criminals tendancy to just dump it. Labs are blowing up and spreading the danger to neighbors, and responding emergency workers.

Lastly as a Deputy Sheriff, I can tell you that the Department of Homland Security has not been lax. There has been information given to local law enforcement agencys that the public will never see. This is information that was not given out even three years ago. Information from gang task forces tracking gang members, to possible terror alerts, to many other advisories that the public is not given. Some because it is part of an ongoing investigation, and some because it is just rumor that is being passed on for us to keep and eye open.

When people start looking at the world like it was going to blow up any minute, people tend to go to extremes and are then part of the problem, or are perceived as a redical and thus are having resourses spent on them that could be used on a legitimate consern.

Stay Safe