It seems to me that, though being prepared for emergencies is a good idea, sites and attitudes like this go a long ways to accomplishing the goals of Al Qaeda or whoever is behind terrorist attacks. People are petrified (I know lots aren't, but a lot apparently are) about nerve gas, biological weapons, even nuclear weapons being wielded by terrorists, and they allow themselves to be caught up in all the goofy duct tape and plastic sheeting crazes, even if they don't actually seal up their rooms. Their way of life is changed significantly, their freedoms infringed upon, and for what?

Worst case scenario, how much damage could terrorists cause? 9/11 is surely in the "worst case" ballpark, and 3000 lives is tragic and terrible, but in relative terms?

There are something like 11,000 deaths by firearms in the US every year. Tens or hundreds of thousands die from smoking, drugs, alcohol, lousy driving, etc, etc, and nobody has created an Office of Homeland Stupidity.

I know lots of Americans personally, and they are all great people. I think the US is a great country, but I also think that it's people are being manipulated by it's leadership, for not-very-noble reasons.

Maybe this should go on the flame board.