In the so-called War on Terror, the Department of Homeland security has encroached upon many of the freedoms that Americans have held sacred and they are demanding more power for monitoring the private lives of citizens and to "detain" people without trial or legal representation. In the broadcast news media, "normal" citizens were interviewed saying that losing a few freedoms was a small price to pay for security. And they added that they had nothing to hide and only criminals or terrorists would be worried about government intrusions into personal privacy. They said, "If you haven't done anything wrong, then what are you afraid of?"

The toy police helicopter symbolizes the police watching over us and the potential for that authority to be used as a toy by overzealous government officials. Governmental power, like a hammer, is a tool that can be used for either construction or destruction.