Member-only story

America's Pursuit of Absolute Security: A Long Tail of Consequences

Emmett Mitchell

·19.3k Followers· Follow

Published in The Emergency State: America S Pursuit Of Absolute Security At All Costs

6 min read

1.4k View Claps

95 Respond

Save

Listen

In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, the United States embarked on a quest for absolute security. This quest has led to a long tail of consequences, including the erosion of civil liberties, the rise of surveillance, and the militarization of society.

The Emergency State: America's Pursuit of Absolute Security at All Costs

by David C. Unger

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1114 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	364 pages

The Patriot Act, passed in the aftermath of 9/11, gave the government sweeping new powers to collect information about its citizens. This has led to the creation of a massive surveillance apparatus that has been used to spy on innocent Americans.

The Department of Homeland Security, also created in the wake of 9/11, has taken on a sprawling and unaccountable role in American life. The department has been accused of profiling and targeting Muslims, and of creating a climate of fear and suspicion.

The military has also been increasingly involved in domestic law enforcement. This has led to the militarization of society, and to a blurring of the line between the military and the police.

The pursuit of absolute security has come at a high cost. It has eroded our civil liberties, undermined our privacy, and created a climate of fear and suspicion. It has also led to the militarization of society, and to a blurring of the line between the military and the police.

It is important to remember that absolute security is an unattainable goal. There will always be some risk of terrorism, and it is impossible to eliminate all threats. The pursuit of absolute security is a dangerous and illusory goal. It is a goal that will ultimately lead to the erosion of our freedoms and the destruction of our democracy.

The Erosion of Civil Liberties

The Patriot Act has been used to justify a wide range of侵犯民权，包括大规模监视、任意拘留和酷刑。

The National Security Agency (NSA) has been collecting vast amounts of data about Americans' phone calls, emails, and internet activity. This data has been used to create a detailed profile of every American, and has been used to target individuals for surveillance and investigation.

The Department of Homeland Security has been accused of profiling and targeting Muslims. The department has created a watch list of thousands of Muslims, and has subjected them to increased scrutiny and surveillance.

The FBI has been accused of using informants to infiltrate Muslim communities and collect information about their activities. The FBI has also been accused of pressuring Muslim leaders to spy on their own communities.

These侵犯民权are a direct result of the quest for absolute security. The government has sacrificed our civil liberties in the name of protecting us from terrorism. However, these侵犯民权have made us less safe, not more.

The Rise of Surveillance

The quest for absolute security has led to the rise of a massive surveillance apparatus. The government now has the ability to track our every move, from our phone calls to our emails to our internet activity.

This surveillance apparatus has been used to spy on innocent Americans. The NSA has been collecting vast amounts of data about Americans' phone calls, emails, and internet activity. This data has been used to create a detailed profile of every American, and has been used to target individuals for surveillance and investigation.

This mass surveillance is a threat to our privacy and our freedom. It is a tool that can be used to silence dissent and to suppress political opposition.

The Militarization of Society

The quest for absolute security has also led to the militarization of society. The military has been increasingly involved in domestic law enforcement, and the line between the military and the police has become increasingly blurred.

The Department of Homeland Security has taken on a vast and unaccountable role in American life. The department has been accused of profiling and targeting Muslims, and of creating a climate of fear and suspicion.

The military has been deployed to cities across the country to conduct surveillance and provide security. This militarization of society is a threat to our civil liberties and our democracy.

The pursuit of absolute security is a dangerous and illusory goal. It is a goal that will ultimately lead to the erosion of our freedoms and the destruction of our democracy.

We must reject the notion that we can achieve absolute security. We must instead focus on building a more just and equitable society, one that is based on the rule of law and the respect for human rights.

The Emergency State: America's Pursuit of Absolute Security at All Costs

by David C. Unger

4.5 out of 5