Final answer:
The Department of Homeland Security centralized domestic security efforts after 9/11, leading to increased surveillance and a focus on terrorism prevention. Despite some improvements in safety, ongoing issues such as inter-agency coordination and civil liberties concerns suggest we are safer to some extent, with caveats.
Step-by-step explanation:
After the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in response to the attacks on September 11, 2001, there have been significant changes in how domestic security is managed in the United States. The aim of the DHS was to centralize and improve coordination among various agencies that were previously unable to communicate effectively, which may have contributed to failing to prevent the 9/11 attacks. Despite this, challenges such as the inadequate response of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina have shown that inter-agency coordination still required improvements. Meanwhile, the USA Patriot Act enabled greater surveillance and monitoring by law enforcement agencies in the interest of national security, raising concerns about the balance between security and civil liberties.
In considering whether we are safer since the creation of Homeland Security, it can be said that there's greater centralized control over national threats and an increased focus on preparing for and preventing terrorist activities. However, questions remain about the effectiveness of these changes in overall safety and their implications on personal freedoms. Given such considerations and ongoing debates, a balanced viewpoint might suggest that we are safer to some extent, though not without new challenges and concerns.