Ok, so with everything that's happened recently I've been thinking a lot more about people. I've been reviewing histories and watching/reading the news and talking to everyone I can. I find a very interesting split in peoples views on safety.
What I've found is a very clear line between 'HAVING SECURITY' and presenting the 'ILLUSION OF SECURITY'. As you would imagine, actually having security keeps you safe, where as the illusion just makes you feel safe. It appears that the majority of people not only provide the illusion instead of the real deal, but that most people seem to prefer the illusion for some reason.
The illusion is easy to present, at least to people who are simple, or who don't choose to look at it too closely. Unfortunately it often increases the risk rather than reduces it. Conversely providing security will make you safe, but it is a hard ugly business. I guess that must be why so many people live with the illusion, and continue to seek it. But it amazes me that they truly believe it's real and when it fails to protect them they act surprised and outraged.
What's your stand? Would you rather truly be safe, even though it's hard and ugly and costly...or would you rather just believe in the illusion so its cheap fast and easy, even though it might cost your life or the life of those around you?
For those who will inevitably ask for examples:
Hiring security officers, but not paying them, training them, equipping them, respecting them, or giving them the latitude to actually do their jobs.
Passing more and more laws the just restate already existing laws, rather than enforcing the current laws.
Talking about uniting under the comman goal of increasing national security, while increasing efforts to disarm our citizens without substantially increasing any other forms of active law enforcement.
etc, etc, etc.
In short, it seems we are once again responding to threats by hiring lots of spendy administration and passing useless laws and coming up with all types of hoops to jump through...that don't actually help keep a single person safe.
What I've found is a very clear line between 'HAVING SECURITY' and presenting the 'ILLUSION OF SECURITY'. As you would imagine, actually having security keeps you safe, where as the illusion just makes you feel safe. It appears that the majority of people not only provide the illusion instead of the real deal, but that most people seem to prefer the illusion for some reason.
The illusion is easy to present, at least to people who are simple, or who don't choose to look at it too closely. Unfortunately it often increases the risk rather than reduces it. Conversely providing security will make you safe, but it is a hard ugly business. I guess that must be why so many people live with the illusion, and continue to seek it. But it amazes me that they truly believe it's real and when it fails to protect them they act surprised and outraged.
What's your stand? Would you rather truly be safe, even though it's hard and ugly and costly...or would you rather just believe in the illusion so its cheap fast and easy, even though it might cost your life or the life of those around you?
For those who will inevitably ask for examples:
Hiring security officers, but not paying them, training them, equipping them, respecting them, or giving them the latitude to actually do their jobs.
Passing more and more laws the just restate already existing laws, rather than enforcing the current laws.
Talking about uniting under the comman goal of increasing national security, while increasing efforts to disarm our citizens without substantially increasing any other forms of active law enforcement.
etc, etc, etc.
In short, it seems we are once again responding to threats by hiring lots of spendy administration and passing useless laws and coming up with all types of hoops to jump through...that don't actually help keep a single person safe.
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