Read your local paper. The military is racheting down their plans to expand the military and citing the Olympics as one of the main reasons for that. And canada allows any and all sorts of moslems in and then they present a clean and present danger to the US as the border is so porous. Talk about going both ways at once!!
You are using a typical 'rat inspired argument, so here's a little reminder.
A slowdown in the RATE of INCREASE is NOT a decrease.
As for my local rag(s) they're either to the left or WAY left of your NYTimes. I wouldn't use them to line a birdcage.