I can't believe this!

NYTimes reports that our congress will seek the opinions of Micheal Crichton on what to do about global warming and emissions control. I would fully expect our pro-oil anti-science white house to seek such advice but congress? I voted for some of those turkeys [well, not Inhofe]! WTF is going on here? Were all the scientists too busy Sen. Inhofe? Or is it that you just don't understand what you don't like. Writing fiction is NOT a qualification for explaining environmental data to congressmen. There ought to be a law that congress has to get expert witnesses who have proper credentials, resume's and accomplishments or publications in their fields. Heavens! Just give us a college professor at least! Maybe we could even extend this law to FEMA appointments?

What would real homeland security include?

I think Simson is onto something here. A truely safe country would, among other things, be one where there would be enough benefits for registering your entry to the country with authorities that those who only crossed borders for the usual economic reasons all remained "visible", leaving only those with nefarious purposes to be detected.