When I hear the term “Homeland” I think of the song “America the Beautiful”. I like that term, and see no reason to allow the fascist’s misinterpretation to deny our use of it.

In my opinion, It’s not the term “Homeland” that’s the problem, it’s the Bushian definition of “Security”.

To me, Homeland Security means a strong Public Health Service, support for local first responders (from Volunteer Fire Depts to Community Policing), strong environmental protection laws, food security through support of local healthy food production and small farms, a strong public education system that encourages kids to advance their education by giving them the ability to pay for college without going into crushing debt.

It is a encouragement of a national ethic that focuses on helping one’s neighbors, not (as old Ashcroft envisioned it), spying on them. It’s an immigration policy that actually processes applications for legal immigration (rather than simply piling up or losing the paperwork year after year after year). And, yes, it’s a tax policy that asks the question “how much compensation is enough?” and then answers that 7 homes and multiple private helicopters and private jets is probably excessive and ought be better put to rebuilding infrastructure and investment in education and health to the benefit of all.

Here’s a good blog, On Day One, where the matter was highlighted some time ago.