Meerkat
08-09-2005, 04:34 PM
Terrorism is everywhere. Only it isn't. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20050809/cm_usatoday/terrorismiseverywhereonlyitisnt;_ylt=AgrtaUH4uuU52 CbYfPbGwj6 s0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3YWFzYnA2BHNlYwM3NDI-)
A steady fear
Polls show that our overall fear has remained fairly constant since 2001. An Associated Press/Ipsos poll the week after the July 7 bombings in London found 57% of us believe an attack on mass transit is inevitable, and 37% are concerned they or their loved ones will be the victims. These percentages have remained steady over the past year. But polls also indicate that recent attacks - including the failed bombings July 21 in London and the successful ones two days later in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt - increase the public expectation elsewhere that the next strike might come soon. A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll just after the London bombings found that 55% said an act of terrorism on U.S. soil was likely in the next few weeks.
Even when an attack occurs overseas, people in the USA and elsewhere personalize this news, which is difficult to avoid because of the widespread coverage and the 24-hour news cycle. In New York and other major cities, the increased surveillance and random bag and backpack checks in the wake of the recent bombings are intended to make people feel safer. But visible surveillance also has the unfortunate effect of sending the message that an attack might be in the offing. As a result, people tend to be more on the alert for a strike that might never come and is extremely unlikely to affect them personally even if it does.Whose campaign? The administration's of course.
Who benefits? The administration of course.
A steady fear
Polls show that our overall fear has remained fairly constant since 2001. An Associated Press/Ipsos poll the week after the July 7 bombings in London found 57% of us believe an attack on mass transit is inevitable, and 37% are concerned they or their loved ones will be the victims. These percentages have remained steady over the past year. But polls also indicate that recent attacks - including the failed bombings July 21 in London and the successful ones two days later in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt - increase the public expectation elsewhere that the next strike might come soon. A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll just after the London bombings found that 55% said an act of terrorism on U.S. soil was likely in the next few weeks.
Even when an attack occurs overseas, people in the USA and elsewhere personalize this news, which is difficult to avoid because of the widespread coverage and the 24-hour news cycle. In New York and other major cities, the increased surveillance and random bag and backpack checks in the wake of the recent bombings are intended to make people feel safer. But visible surveillance also has the unfortunate effect of sending the message that an attack might be in the offing. As a result, people tend to be more on the alert for a strike that might never come and is extremely unlikely to affect them personally even if it does.Whose campaign? The administration's of course.
Who benefits? The administration of course.