Security hawks

The United States overreacted to 9/11.  We federalized the TSA, established the Department of Homeland Security, and diverted federal law enforcement assets to anti-terrorist duties.  Public buildings which used to be freely accessible to the public they serve are now surrounded by barriers and screening detectors.

Of course any security agency can be counted on to tell you that you need to pay more attention (and devote more assets) to security.  If you follow their recommendations slavishly, soon security will be the biggest chunk of the discretionary budget.

Al Qaeda wanted to disrupt our economy on 9/11.  They succeeded beyond their wildest dreams, chiefly because we shifted assets that should have been used for economic growth to security activities.  We should have said, "We'll carry on as usual and not let some crazed terrorists disrupt our excellent society and our excellent economy and our excellent trust of our citizenry."

We need to reclaim our country from the security hawks, who would continue to increase our country's expenditure on security, and continue to erode our fundamental freedom.