Who is a greater threat to America: the underpants bomber or unregulated, unpunished Wall St?

[yurbud]

Poll question: Who is a greater threat to America: the underpants bomber or unregulated, unpunished Wall St?

I certainly think airport security is important and don't want anyone sitting next to me on a flight detonating their scrotum, but Jesus Christ, think about the scale of damage that guy could have done IF he had been entirely successful versus the the standard of living, jobs, pensions, and even lives crushed not just here but around the world by Wall Street scammers. Could al Qaeda ever hope in their wildest dreams to do the kind of damage they do?

If Washington was really concerned about our national security, wouldn't Wall Street look like Guantanamo Bay and idiots will explosives in their crotches would be on page A13 of the paper?

Am I wrong? Who is a greater threat to our security and way of life?

[noise]

1. It's not an either/or deal

It points to the inconsistency of the political establishment. If they are so concerned about protecting Americans from al Qaeda then why do they not seem to care when citizens are financially screwed by corruption on Wall St.? It's reminiscent of the abortion double standard whereby some people opposed to abortion don't seem to have a problem with wars or social Darwinism.

The answer is likely the theory put forth by Naomi Klein in The Shock Doctrine. The public is confused by all the fearmongering and propaganda and thus fails to fully appreciate the bizarre contradictions of the political establishment in relation to looking out for the public.

[yurbud]

3. yep-- and a basic misunderstanding of probability as well as cause and effect

even on 9/11, you were probably safer in a plane than a car.

Likewise, not enough people wonder why someone would kill themselves to do us the tiniest bit of harm and too readily believe the cartoonish motives offered by Washington.

[housewolf]

2. The UP Bomber could have inflicted damage and pain on 300 Americans

and their families. The Wall Street debacle has (and continues to) inflict damage and pain (albeit not death in a plane explosion) on millions of Americans and will continue to for decades and generations to come.

[TheKentuckian]

4. The corporate commies are the biggest threat since the NAZIS

[GreenMetalFlake]

5. Same thing, only wing tips instead of jack boots - and a media to call it by another name

[icnorth]

6. Right on bro...

exploding shorts might take down a plane...imploding banks could take down a country...

[DailyGrind51]

7. "Wall Street" can kill you over-time until you have nothing to live for.

Strip away a person's home, job, savings, health coverage, and what is left but unpaid obligations?

[yurbud]

10. your blood...LINK

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/145044/cerberus_capital%3A_literally_blood-sucking_the_poor_to_make_their_billions

[timtom]

8. Man, that was a tough one.

I wrestled with this for hours. Finally, I closed my eyes and clicked.

:sarcasm:
(for those who are whimsically impaired)

[yurbud]

9. exactly. that was the same feeling I had when the balloon boy's parents were arrested

It was a good thing they got those dangerous low rent scammers before they got their own TV show. They were a lot more dangerous than anyone at say GOLDMAN SACHS.

[yurbud]

11. wow--only four DLCers on this thread?

[Sebastian Doyle]

12. up to 6 now.

Probably will be a few more after the shift change.

[yurbud]

13. ''evening, Bob. You need the list o' talking points?''

''No, why should I? They haven't changed for the last ten years.''

[MindPilot]

14. If screwing working people out of their livelihoods while emptying the treasury

required wall street bankers to set fire to their balls, they would like be less of a threat.