Directing the flow of money to proven technology solutions

Feb 1, 2002 12:00 PM, Larry Anderson www.securitysolutions.com

If security is on everyone's mind, is it any surprise that our beloved field of interest has lately become a political cause celèbre?

When security is topic A-Number-One in the President's State of the Union address, then you can honestly say that security awareness has never been greater. As we have pointed out here before, the heightened security awareness of late incorporates a newly broadened definition of security to include almost anything that even remotely touches on the safety of our “Homeland” — another word that has made a quick move to the top of everyone's vocabulary, and in the process has become a star player in the politician's lexicon.

With security at the top of the national agenda, our industry is benefiting from an accelerating stream of money coming our way, much of it being spent by politicians and government officials who know very little about security. Obviously, the answer to any problem the government sets out to solve starts with money. And what better cause to spend money on in this day and time than security, which lately has been elevated to that sacred political zone which no politician dares to oppose? It's right up there with education, a clean environment and Mom's Apple Pie.

The second part of the equation, however, is a need to make knowledgeable decisions about exactly how the money is spent. Some of it's easy: If the mayors say they need more police officers or other resources for Homeland Security, surely we can take their word for it, can't we?

But here's a warning: “Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.” So suggests P.J. O'Rourke, and in this case the money comes from the vast Federal budget and the power emanates from overwhelming public opinion that the cause is just, or at least justifiable.

Helping politicians — and the bureaucrats who work at their behest — to make smart choices on how to spend the $86 billion President Bush has earmarked for defense and homeland security is perhaps a part of the puzzle that our industry can provide. Beyond the fact that we have a lot of technology to sell — which we undeniably do — is the fact that we have successfully applied many technologies in the private sector that are now being called on to solve problems in the public sector. Sharing the vast well of knowledge our industry possesses goes well beyond any possible monetary benefits — it's our patriotic duty!

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