Terror. Terror! TERROR!

Please report any unattended bags, parcels, or packages to the operator.

All the time I ride the VTA Lightrail, and a few times every trip I hear this. Just a few short years ago I never even would have imagined I'd be hearing it, but here it is.
Now, sure it seems like a good idea. That package could be a bomb! That old bag of McDonalds could be filled with hazardous waste! (Though to be fair, if any food was left in the bag, it is hazardous waste.)

It got me thinking, though. Just why have this repeating message; this message that implies that you might be in danger all the time? Perhaps to keep us on our toes? To keep us in fear?

This relates directly to the US terror alert level. Oh the wonderful, color-coded, easy to understand rainbow of terror. Only... it never goes down. Any time I've ever looked at it it's been yellow or above. Yet we've had no attacks, only more and more spouting from our government about how we're not safe.

I'm pretty sure that, by now, noone really pays attention to it, and if they do, they more than likely watch Faux "News" as an actual news show, rather than comedy.