--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After September 11, it became unpatriotic…" description: "\"After September 11, it became unpatriotic to question any homeland-security or defense spending, and that let things get out of control.\" — Jeff Flake" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/jeff-flake-11986_defense_after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic_2793704.png" --- # After September 11, it became unpatriotic to question any… ![“After September 11, it became unpatriotic to question any homeland-security or defense spending, and that let things get out of control.” quote by Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/jeff-flake-11986_defense_after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic_2793704.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/jeff-flake-11986_defense_after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic_2793704.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/jeff-flake-11986_defense_after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic_2793704.png) > “After September 11, it became unpatriotic to question any homeland-security or defense spending, and that let things get out of control.” [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Patriotic pressure suppressed criticism of security policies, leading to unchecked actions. **In simple terms:** Fear of being unpatriotic stopped questioning security spending. Key Takeaway Encourage open debate on security matters. Themes politics patriotism policy accountability Mood critical thoughtful Type political analytical When to use this quote - public discourse - policy review - media analysis Key Concepts civic engagement government oversight Questions to Reflect On - What balance should exist between security and criticism? - How can citizens voice concerns safely? A Different Perspective May oversimplify complex security needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defense spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-spending/) [Homeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeland/) [Homeland security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homeland-security/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [September](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/september/) ## Related quotes > [In a brave new world, a post-September 11 world, anyone is going to make certain mistakes. 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Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities ... We pay for a single…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/the-cost-of-one-modern-heavy-bomber-is-this-a-modern-brick-school-in/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The most cost-effective move we could make in defense spending would be to shift the focus of CIA operations, giving this agency the directive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-p-wheeler-iii/the-most-cost-effective-move-we-could-make-in-defense-spending-would/) [John P. Wheeler III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-p-wheeler-iii/) > [Education is, quite simply, peace-building by another name. It is the most effective form of defense spending there is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/education-is-quite-simply-peace-building-by-another-name-it-is-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [OK, so $1 trillion is what it costs to run the federal government for one year. So this money's going to run through September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-davis/ok-so-1-trillion-is-what-it-costs-to-run-the-federal-government-for/) [Susan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-davis/) > [Higher education isn't just a personal investment. 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As a country, Japan attaches great importance to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fumio-kishida/family-related-social-expenditures-should-not-be-a-lower-priority/) [Fumio Kishida](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fumio-kishida/) > [The last four secretaries of defense have pointed out that defense spending creates jobs. So do pornography, prostitution, and narcotics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-parenti/the-last-four-secretaries-of-defense-have-pointed-out-that-defense/) [Michael Parenti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-parenti/) > [I will veto any effort to get rid of those automatic spending cuts to domestic and defense spending. There will be no easy off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-will-veto-any-effort-to-get-rid-of-those-automatic-spending-cuts-to/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Historically, defense spending cuts have preceded increased international turmoil as America's global enemies sense a failure of will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/historically-defense-spending-cuts-have-preceded-increased/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Defense spending as a share of the economy dropped significantly during the early 1990s, and that was one of the things, along with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orszag/defense-spending-as-a-share-of-the-economy-dropped-significantly/) Peter Orszag ## More by Jeff Flake > [There are some Republicans who say that any time you raise new revenue, you have to have a tax cut to match it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/there-are-some-republicans-who-say-that-any-time-you-raise-new/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [Many of the earmark request forms are actually filled out by lobbyists and then just turned in by the member's staff to the appropriations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/many-of-the-earmark-request-forms-are-actually-filled-out-by/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [If we can't have the courage to tell our constituents, hey, we've got to cut back, then if we can point to something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/if-we-can-t-have-the-courage-to-tell-our-constituents-hey-we-ve-got/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [“Brigham Young himself had sent my great-great-grandfather, William Jordan Flake, and others down from Utah to colonize the area. Legend has it that after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/brigham-young-himself-had-sent-my-great-great-grandfather-william/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [“Growing up with migrant workers, I knew that they usually worked harder than we did. Sometimes my dad and my uncles would hire a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/growing-up-with-migrant-workers-i-knew-that-they-usually-worked/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [ Just when you think \[Donald Trump\] can stoop no lower, he does. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/just-when-you-think-donald-trump-can-stoop-no-lower-he-does/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [This Congress is out of control and in desperate need of adult supervision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/this-congress-is-out-of-control-and-in-desperate-need-of-adult/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [I do think that the Republican Party is in a crisis right now, a crisis of confidence about who we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/i-do-think-that-the-republican-party-is-in-a-crisis-right-now-a/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [Unfortunately there are too many examples of members of Congress and other elected officials using language, referring to your opponents in ways that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/unfortunately-there-are-too-many-examples-of-members-of-congress-and/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [Certainly the policy is right and good politics usually follow good policy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/certainly-the-policy-is-right-and-good-politics-usually-follow-good/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [I think the Respublican party's lost its way. We have given into nativism and protectionism. And I think that, if we're going to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/i-think-the-respublican-party-s-lost-its-way-we-have-given-into/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [“In the late 1990s, the conservative gadfly Roger Stone began to observe, not disapprovingly, that popular culture had become more influential than politics.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/in-the-late-1990s-the-conservative-gadfly-roger-stone-began-to/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [The country is facing a fiscal crisis, and the United States Senate is at the center of the debate about how to bring federal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/the-country-is-facing-a-fiscal-crisis-and-the-united-states-senate-is/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [For one, I think as a missionary you gotta be stubborn. And you gotta try to be persuasive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/for-one-i-think-as-a-missionary-you-gotta-be-stubborn-and-you-gotta/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) > [These are people who wanted to provide for their family and wanted a better life. We've got to have a secure border. But we've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/these-are-people-who-wanted-to-provide-for-their-family-and-wanted-a/) [Jeff Flake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) [Explore all 57 Jeff Flake quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/) ## More Defense quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [On the McLaughlin Report, August 26, 1990: 'There are only two groups that are beating the drums for war in the middle East, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/on-the-mclaughlin-report-august-26-1990-there-are-only-two-groups/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [My last defense / Is the present tense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwendolyn-brooks/my-last-defense-is-the-present-tense/) [Gwendolyn Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwendolyn-brooks/) > [Football is not just all about throwing the ball. You got to run the ball, too. Defense has to be good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-jefferson/football-is-not-just-all-about-throwing-the-ball-you-got-to-run-the/) [Justin Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-jefferson/) > [The law is the collective organization of the individual's right to lawful defense of his life, liberty and property. When it is used for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/the-law-is-the-collective-organization-of-the-individual-s-right-to/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Witness for the defense, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/witness-for-the-defense-albus-percival-wulfric-brian-dumbledore/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You say I have a bad attitude. But have you ever stopped to check yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tasha-marie/you-say-i-have-a-bad-attitude-but-have-you-ever-stopped-to-check-yours/) Tasha Marie > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. This is what in defense is referred to as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-putin/their-the-u-s-s-defense-budget-in-absolute-figures-is-almost-25-times/) [Vladimir Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-putin/) > [So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-americans-understand-the-costs-of-war-yet-as-a-country-we-will/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/a-well-informed-citizenry-is-the-best-defense-against-tyranny/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [He should release the tax returns tomorrow. It's crazy. You've got to release six, eight, ten years back tax returns. Take the hit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-kristol/he-should-release-the-tax-returns-tomorrow-it-s-crazy-you-ve-got-to/) [William Kristol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-kristol/) > [Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/defense-is-a-definite-part-of-the-game-and-a-great-part-of-defense-is/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [When you shoot someone who is fleeing, it's not self-defense. It's an execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-shoot-someone-who-is-fleeing-it-s-not-self-defense-it-s-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Virtually every major technological advance in the history of the human species- back to the invention of stone tools and the domestication of fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dennett/virtually-every-major-technological-advance-in-the-history-of-the/) [Daniel Dennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dennett/) Browse all 2,426 Defense quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After September 11, it became unpatriotic to question any homeland-security or defense spending, and that let things get out of control.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jeff Flake" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic-to-question-any-homeland/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Defense" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic-to-question-any-homeland/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/jeff-flake-11986_defense_after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic_2793704.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/jeff-flake-11986_defense_after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic_2793704.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/jeff-flake-11986_defense_after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic_2793704.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After September 11, it became unpatriotic to question any homeland-security or defense spending, and that…” — Jeff Flake", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jeff Flake", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-flake/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "After September 11, it became unpatriotic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic-to-question-any-homeland/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-flake/after-september-11-it-became-unpatriotic-to-question-any-homeland/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```