Basically what we have here, as I see it, is a fundamental difference in position and world view. You are on one side and the majority of those who have responded to your poll(I assume thus representing accurately the majority of the board and I wish the majority of the nation) on the other. As such we're going to just keep talking past each other, since I don't think I've ever seen anyone's basic views changed by an online dialog.
The basic difference is you see government as having purpose, credibility and value even at the largest levels. You appear to believe that anyone, in time of trouble, will need or even welcome the help of that beast. Others, me included, don't even see much reason for fedgov at all. Keep it local, small and simple. Your 'nawlins example, for example: I'd stay. I'd defend my stuff. And I'd pick up my own pieces, with the help of the insurance I paid for, afterwards. If that all turned out to be a mistake then it would be one I would learn from, take my beating and move on(and move away) from. Not count on government saving my happy ass next time and no, I wouldn't be bitching they didn't save it this time, either.
Same for the NID. Nevermind the fact it won't work, I wouldn't want it if it did. With freedom comes risk. Frankly, I prefer the risk of the Big Bad Terrorist(small and remote for the majority of us) to the risk of Big Bad Big Brother(who here doesn't know someone who's been on the receiving end of something bad from gooberment?). Don't need him and am not likely to, since if I wind up living on the street for whatever reason I am STILL not going to be reaching for a government hand out(though I may ask you, the church, my brother or go crying to mommy and daddy). That's just a basic difference in viewpoint regarding government, its duties and what powers it should have, and needs, I think. It's not likely we're going to reconcile it here...
