Mr C, I think that much has been said already in numerous posts on this thread as well as others., I will however cite examples of your tax dollars at work,the Gulf of Tonkin incident, Watergate, Iran/contra scandal, leaking CIA operative's name(high treason), expermenting with the effects of syphillis on US citizens by injection without their knowlege, Katrina, also the govt's primary job, to protect the nation and it's citzens even when warned "BIn Laden ddetermined to attack the US" goes unheeded, as reported by API, BBC,Rueters, and many other news outlets the W administration told 935 lies to justify an illegal war. I could go on & on but people like you will not question the gov't even as they are waiting in line for their cup of kool-aid. I believe that you ,my friend, have conered the market on ignorance, and as for paranoia, when was the last time you were attacked by "terrorists"?