Charles Stricklin from Shreveport, La., writes, “Are you against the idea of homeland security, or just appalled at the ineptness of how it’s been set and running?”

The government we have now was constituted to, among other things, provide for the common defense. So it says in the Preamble to the Constitution. It is with this in mind, in theory, that the Department of Homeland Security was created.

It’s absolutely one of the most vital core functions of government to defend its citizens from threats to their safety, both those that originate from foreign sources, as well as those that originate domestically. It’s one of the few legitimate things that a government of free people can do.

In concept, the idea of “homeland security” is a fine one. Protect the people of the homeland. Sure, I will buy that, if the price is right.

Unfortunately, We the People are paying too much for too little security, and that’s what this site is all about, as you can clearly see by browsing the archives here.

From random bag searches in the New York City subway, which are pointless busy-work for the police, and at least a terrible inconvenience for New Yorkers, and at most a violation of civil rights, to insane no-fly lists which prevent babies from getting on an airplane, not to mention the files the government is illegally collecting on innocent people, the so-called war on terror at home has been utterly stupid.

And we’re all paying the price. So many billions of dollars, I have completely lost count. Not to mention the loss of privacy with no gain in security.

Oh, I almost forgot, I don’t like the name “homeland security.” It reminds me too much of das Vaterland.