There were more people in our church on September 16 than last Christmas or Easter. And Billy, my old logger buddy, and his wife Pam, were sickened by events and saddened by assaults on American Muslims. The outpouring of sympathy and constructive reactions represent America at its best.

We believe that America is the world's most successful large-scale social experiment. The benefits rebound worldwide. This is why those mired in the poverty, corruption, and intolerance of an 11th century culture hate us so vehemently.

We don't have TV so I remained linked to NPR for the week. They did a great job. So fine was their effort to convey the pathos and the facts, that I caught my self crying on tractors and 4 wheelers, as I went about my ranch work. And I'm not embarrassed at this admission.

However, I'm hardwired to think as an economist -- or ecologist. Both professions ask: And then what? What are the likely consequences of dramatic changes in our expectations? Our environment has changed for the worse. Sorry, but it's true. We are, all of us, worse off.

Our son lives in proximity to the World Trade Center. My daughter frequently travels to DC and NY. Both, thank God, were spared the immediate carnage. Neither will escape the aftermath. Here's why.

Anarchy and terrorism are every sane person's last choice. America will, and should, respond with great force. What's next? Here are a few things to consider.

We are at war. And we should be. The unintended but predictable consequences are chilling.

The challenge in framing a government is straightforward: Government must be powerful enough to protect the rights of citizens, but not so powerful that government itself becomes a threat to those rights. The American solution to this problem -- our Constitution -- represents history's crowning achievement of political genius. Through dedication to the constitutional principles and practices of freedom, America became the most powerful and prosperous nation ever.

Yet, in the midst of tragedy, opportunists created scams that pillaged the compassion and sensitivities of others. I have to think hard to envision more despicable acts.

But these connivers are hardly alone. I'm confident that we will see politicians take similar advantage of our patriotism and concern for security.

In times such as these, and yes, there have been others, some politicians will capitalize on emotions. We will, we must, give up certain conveniences. But giving up rights may lead the U.S. into autocratic rule.

I suspect this is what the terrorists want and what the Founding Fathers tried to preclude when they wrote the Bill of Rights. America is built on a healthy distrust of government power. Benjamin Franklin's admonition, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety," is on target.

My first concern is the categorizing of entire classes of Americans as enemies.

In WWI we stigmatized German Americans. We legitimized our war on them by asserting that Germans roasted and ate Belgian babies. We burned the German books in Seattle's schools and libraries. We herded some German Americans into a detention camp. This is trivial but my great grandfather had his grain elevator defaced and farms vandalized -- despite the fact that his father fought with the Union in the Civil War.

In WWII the American atrocities toward Japanese Americans approached our maltreatment of Indians. We confiscated their property and made them prisoners for the war's duration. To its everlasting shame, FDR's declaration was legitimized by the Supreme Court. Recent harassment and assaults on Americans with Middle Eastern appearances indicate the dangers of wartime passions.

The "blame America first" crowd will gradually emerge and claim that the fault is ours, that we are responsible for the poverty and degradation which lead the terrorists to desperation and martyrdom. Possibly they're right -- but certainly not for the reasons they claim.

We could have done better by being more assertive in exporting our system of liberty and wealth creation. The poverty and desperation which motivated this most extreme fanaticism is an institutional not a genetic flaw.

I don't study international relations and know little about the Middle East. I know, however, that 11th century radicals armed with 21st century technology represent evil squared.

America stands as a noble, most highly successful experiment. Our most important task now is to minimize the collateral damage to our liberties while safeguarding our security.