What's it like in D.C. these days?

[m-jean03]

There was an article in the local paper on all the new security, militarization of the city. What is the effect on residents and tourists, is it a drastic or noticable change with real psychological and practical repercussions?

Thanks very much.

[mstrsplinter326]

1. My uncle lives there

He says it's one of the most depressing things on earth. The people don't believe in gov't because more so than else where. The poverty rivals Gary, Indiana and East Saint Louis, Missouri. It's a wonder that the violence hasn't been equal to those two places. Of course I'm talking about the real citizens of DC, not the neighborhoods of the super rich around the capitol

[izzie]

2. Sounds like an armed camp from what I have read.

I used to live just out side DC and I also had family that lived there for 20 plus years. It sounds sad. Europe has not done this and they have had terrorist for years. Why do we act so silly. You know if they wish to blow up a building they will.I have always said the terrorist won.

[carpetbagger]

3. Not much difference for the most part.

I was there last week, my second trip back to my old home since 9/11/01. More cops parked outside public buildings, a few more roads closed near the White House and Capitol, but most of it's the same.

It's quite different than it was 20 years ago, when you used to be able to walk around most parts of the Capitol building, for example. In the 1980's I used to be able to walk right in to my father's office (he was a civilian employee of the Navy's Military Sealift Command). Those days are gone, but they were gone long before 2001. Since the early 1980's, there's been a steady stream of changes, such as closing off streets, metal detectors, and the planning of the Capitol Visitor's Center, and it's been these things more than anything else that's changed to a certain extent the easy access in DC.

[Hamlette]

4. DH was there last week

to meet with Senators and Congressman. He described it like an armed camp. High level of security every where he went. High paranoia too. It was never like that before. The meetings took place in "secret" rooms in the Capitol he'd never been in before. He goes there a few times a year to meet with them (yes, he goes to lobby) and said it was way different than ever before.

[donhakman]

5. Low Paranoia highanxiety

No one feels safer. But the real question is safer from who.

I go through 2 searches a day and drive through several pop up truck barriers each day.

Every day I ask the guards "did we catch any terrorists yet?".
Every day they answer no.

We all know its BS and feel put upon.

We all know that no one ever saw a plane hit the Pentagon except for 2 people they interviewed on TV.

We now admonish Bush in casual conversation which is a big change since last year.

As all this crap goes downhill the increased militarization is making all other anxiety issues worse. Racial tension is growing worse. The driving experience is as bad as ever

Dealing with the additional layers of beaurocratic control by OMB, which is becoming a new arm of control and censorship, the atmosphere in Washington DC is increasingly one of overt fascist oversight.