Around half the US population says that they are worried to be killed by terrorists.
The annual probability for an American to die in a terrorist attack during this period was 0.000051%
[ourworldindata.org/terrorism]
The annual probability for an American to die in a terrorist attack during this period was 0.000051%
[ourworldindata.org/terrorism]
The countermeasures against terrorism – including the ‘war on terror’ – were extreme:
It cost trillions of dollars, killed tens of thousand of people, made millions to refugees, reduced civil liberties, legitimized intrusions into privacy.
And it failed entirely to reduce fear.
It cost trillions of dollars, killed tens of thousand of people, made millions to refugees, reduced civil liberties, legitimized intrusions into privacy.
And it failed entirely to reduce fear.
This looks unfortunately like a huge success for the terrorists.
As Scott Atran says “Perhaps never in the history of human conflict have so few people with so few actual means and capabilities frightened so many.”
[harpercollins.com/products/talki…]
As Scott Atran says “Perhaps never in the history of human conflict have so few people with so few actual means and capabilities frightened so many.”
[harpercollins.com/products/talki…]
As to the risk of dying from terrorism, Americans were extremely unlikely to die from terrorism before the war on terror, since then the share who died from terrorism has slightly increased, but it is still extremely rare.
[data (incl. for all countries) ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-…]
[data (incl. for all countries) ourworldindata.org/grapher/share-…]
In 2016 Americans were asked whether they agreed with the statement that “ISIS is a serious threat to the existence or survival of the United States”.
25% agreed somewhat and an additional 52% agreed strongly.
In total 77% agreed with this statement.
[jstor.org/stable/resrep2…]
25% agreed somewhat and an additional 52% agreed strongly.
In total 77% agreed with this statement.
[jstor.org/stable/resrep2…]
It’s always fair to be skeptical to survey results.
But on the other hand, we have to have an explanation for how it’s possible that the US population is willing to support the extremely costly and intrusive counterterrorism measures.
But on the other hand, we have to have an explanation for how it’s possible that the US population is willing to support the extremely costly and intrusive counterterrorism measures.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
