New Glory

For more than 200 years, in times of crisis, Americans have rallied around the flag, making extraordinary sacrifices to safeguard the democratic institutions it symbolizes. In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the capitals of American government and commerce, the spirit of freedom shines no less brightly from sea to shining sea. Indeed, the huge increase in sales of Old Glory the day after the attacks was a powerful sign of the patriotism that is never far beneath the routines of everyday life.

Perhaps, for a time, we may lose some of the freedoms of easy air travel and some confidence in our safety within our own borders. But New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was correct when he said on Sept. 12 that our people will set an example of strength in adversity and will emerge from the crisis stronger than before.

As we come to the defense of freedom, we turn to government for the short-term work of rescue and relief and the long-term pursuit of retribution and justice. Within a day of the tragedy, 7,000 FBI personnel were on the case, and tens of thousands of other public servants also were responding to the tragedy. The firefighters of New York were the most immediate heroes, but Coast Guard teams, federal firefighters from the western states and many others were also on the job. It seemed apparent that many more heroes would be needed as our government leaders prepared for a long, costly military campaign against terrorists and the nations that give them sanctuary.

Only crisis, it seems, unites Americans in support of their government, and that is unfortunate. Government, after all, is our common enterprise, and our means of finding solutions to the problems of our society. Government sets and enforces the policies that make American capitalism so successful, a function that is often overlooked by those who benefit most from the riches our capitalist institutions generate.

Constant criticism of government, especially by the politicians who lead it, has weakened our public institutions, as we report in these pages every month. Hardly an agency we examine is truly healthy. Most struggle against shortages of resources needed to do the job. Given the unmet needs our society still confronts, a renewed commitment to our public sector is overdue. Perhaps it will begin as Americans get behind their government as it responds to the terrorist attacks. That would be another powerful signal of America's enduring strength.