Are The Terrorists Winning? Do You Know Who They Are?

The simplest definition of a terrorist is one who creates fear, chaos and discontent by upsetting the order and organization of society through their acts.

The actions of those who were responsible for the agony and national calamity of 911 would certainly match that definition. Their mission was to pursue their agenda and accomplish their goals with no regard to the pain caused by their actions. It mattered little that they may have believed in their cause or their tactics. Their evil was in their deeds and their effects. It had little or nothing to do with their motivation.

When we saw what they had done, we acted to prevent similar deeds. Through our leaders and with our puzzled cooperation, we responded over the last seven years with platitudes, color-coded proclamations and significant erosion in our privacy and personal freedoms. We have institutionalized security procedures that seem annoying to many, questionable to most and seem to provide little comfort or assurance that they have or will prevent further disruption in our society.

It is if we have suspended the laws of probability and expect lightning to strike in the same place - not just once - but again and again. We have poured our liquids into tiny bottles, taken off our shoes and participated in the delusion that we are somehow accomplishing the prevention of terrorist acts.

While it is true that nobody has commandeered a flight recently, it might be due mostly to hardened cockpit doors and none of the the other precautions.

It seems that, unless those who would commit terrorist acts are extremely irrational and stupid, they would probably look for other methods to inflict their injuries on the freedoms, peace and prosperity that has been the hallmark of our society.

Yes, it would be best if they had a strategy to go where no one is looking; to act where there is little or no restraint and to openly hide their deeds behind the mantle of free enterprise and laissez-faire economics.

We shouldn't be afraid of those who are simply pursuing the nearly institutionalized path that we have allowed to be carved out. Or should we?

There seems to be little doubt that the economic terror we are experiencing worldwide has its roots in a variety of areas including greed, selfish incompetence and lack of oversight by those who have been appointed as our leaders.

Things are pretty bad.

The "remedies" that have been applied are mysterious, mostly ineffectual and seem to contain the seeds of economic weeds that may choke out any positive effects.

Things are getting worse.

Let's be upfront about "calling a spade a spade". To paraphrase that comedian's routine about "You might be a redneck...", lets identify the terrorist actions currently in play.

• If they foreclose on a mortgage with little chance of financial benefit through the sale of the asset; if they refuse to negotiate any interim solution - they might be a terrorist.
• If they manipulate credit card interest to instantly create insolvency in previously solvent businesses - they might be a terrorist.
• If they hold money given to them to stimulate lending or use it for other purposes - they might be a terrorist.
• If they take no leadership action to provide oversight to dispensing hundreds of billions of dollars; if they refuse to listen to those who are alarmed - they might be a terrorist.
• If they use events as an excuse to eliminate jobs while not enduring current financial stress - they might be a terrorist.

Is the apparent accusation of labelling select areas of business and government as "terrorists" irrational or just irreverent?

Is there any purpose in using this emotionally-charged label other than arrogant sensationalism?

Let's return to the premise of this editorial: "Their evil was in their deeds and their effects. It had little or nothing to do with their motivation."

It seems frustrating that there is often great truth in commonly used, trite expressions. We learn not to trust them because they are seemingly shallow, "pat" answers. In this case, you can be the judge on the applicability of this: "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem".

Otherwise competent, well-meaning people are working on problem solutions in the midst of these unsettling events - and making things worse. Let's not sit silently - mesmerized by fear - while common sense and decency scream in our heads: "This is not right. We have to change this course."

We need leadership. While we are in a representative democracy, we are not absolved from participation. Leadership and problem solutions can and must come from all areas of our society.

Speak. Write. We need your help.