National security state

Okay kiddo, imagine you have a toy that you really like, but you are afraid someone might take it away from you. To make sure you keep your toy safe, you might ask someone else, like your mommy or daddy, to watch over it for you. That way, no one can take your toy without your permission.

The national security state is kind of like that. It's when the government decides that it needs to watch over the nation to keep it safe from harm. The government wants to protect things like people, buildings, and important information that could be used against the country.

But just like you might have different types of toys that need different levels of protection, the government has different levels of protection for different things. For example, the government might have strict security measures in place for things like nuclear weapons, important documents, or the president's safety.

To make sure everything is safe, the government might use things like spies, background checks, or even intercepting phone calls or emails. They do this to try to catch any potential threats before they happen.

Of course, there are some people who disagree with this level of protection, and think that the government is being too invasive. They worry that it might infringe on their personal freedoms or privacy.

So, like with your toy, sometimes it's a balance between keeping things safe and making sure everyone still feels comfortable and free.