Police state

This must be what a police state looks like: uniformed officers hovering over a majority of subway entrances and intersections, making their presence felt. Guards standing outside banks, access blocked to public areas. Not what I'd call security.

Allow me to state the obvious: security is a state of mind, not a state of being. Americans were more "secure" prior to the September 11 attacks because we thought we were. It's sick that I can't walk past one of the city's landmarks, the Empire State Building, every day without plotting an escape route in my head. I'm ashamed for this country when I field fear-motivated phone calls from family members. I feel like a ridiculous slave to procedure as I flash my badge at my office building's entrance to the same security guys I've seen there for the past year and a half. And it's downright depressing to read that "[t]he Manhattan district attorney has predicted 1,000 arrests per day, with a strong start on Sunday" ("Protesters' big day arrives," Aug. 28) -- particularly when today I read that only about 250 people wound up in jail.*

I don't deny, in the simplistic terms of a presidential sound bite, that there are bad guys out to get us. I'm just disgusted by our cowboy response. Because the truth is, rather than search for long-term solutions to problems such as these, we embark on short-sighted and -- dare I impugn the motives of our elected officials -- cheaper methods for making us somewhat safer for at least the next four years. I'm not suggesting that "terrorists" -- to use the meaningless label we apply to any group who, in the face of overwhelming Western military strength, ditches the Geneva war conventions -- should be appeased or bought off. But anyone who thinks the past few administrations' interest in the middle east have nothing whatsoever to do with oil, and have entirely to do with promoting Democracy, need only look at the poor, angry third world areas that don't have the same natural resources. Surely, investing in alternative energy technologies would take western capital away from the repressive regimes that help stir anti-American sentiments. Maybe growing a trust in international law might dissuade suicide bombers from thinking their desperation is the only way. This tossing aside of laws as they run counter to our so-called national interests is not a long-term plan, no matter what Lincoln did or no matter what Supreme Court justice said what. Perhaps investing in improved exchange programs, diplomatic initiatives, educational opportunities, and greater incentives for countries that move toward democratic rule (as opposed simply to capitalism -- this means you, China) might do more to foster understanding of America and our way of life than occupation or stationing military bases throughout sovereign nations. Maybe our demonstrated unwillingness to support democracies because we don't like who's been elected is sending the wrong message to the world. None of these things excuse the horrific acts of violent extremists, but instead of pinning the hopes for security on keeping evil-doers from getting us, it's long since time for us to examine how our own policies allow those who hate us to gain their strength.

*For those curious, that's less than 1 of every 1000 protestors (depending on which estimates you use, it could be one of 1 of every 2000) -- compare that to 1 out of every 32 adults in America in prison or on parole. I'd say that's pretty peaceful.