I've been quietly (OK, LOUDLY) fuming for years about the increased efforts by a variety of organisations and governments to make us all feel so unsafe we would accept any level of infringement on our privacy and other human rights to feel safer. I know I'm not alone in my concern over the 'patriot' laws enacted in many countries, including our own, over the more recent past (mainly post-911). In fact, these laws and policies have succeeded in making me feel very unsafe and somewhat afraid - not of terrorist threats but of those charged with protecting me.
I also resent this trend because it forces me into common cause with many right-wingers and I'm never comfortable in that territory :(.
I've been listening to an interesting podcast series - The Suspect Society - that brings a lot of what's happened in (mainly) the USA into focus and thought others might find it thought-provoking and educative, not to mention validating, to listen to these as well. It is presented in Parts 1, 2 and 3 (which is apparently no longer accessible online unfortunately).
It's worth a wander through the CBC podcast website if you're into social issues and podcasts.
