The fear-industrial complex

Worldview program from late April. Host Jerome McDonnell interviews the co-author of an article that appeared in the previous issue of Foreign Affairs, entitled "Clear and Present Safety" (link included below, but requires registration).

In short, the authors argue that the world is much safer than the picture painted by Washington, the foreign-policy establishment, the news media, etc. Similar to my May 3 blog post about Paul Krugman, the authors here are anything but radical leftists. These are centrist intellectuals who wrote a very good article because it was based on reason.

It is disheartening to note that in the United States, rational centrism sounds ultra-progressive in the current climate. However, it is encouraging to also note that the vast majority of the population is on board with what the clearheaded are saying.

http://www.wbez.org/worldview/2012-04-27/segment/america%E2%80%99s-sky-falling-fear-industrial-complex-98615

http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/137279/micah-zenko-and-michael-a-cohen/clear-and-present-safety