Politics of fear

The year was 1987.  My political science professor  was lecturing and he suddenly said something that made me snap to attention.  “Wait and see my young charges, the politics of fear cannot help but become the politics of hate.  We always end up hating what we fear.”   Twenty three years later his comments seem to be more relevant today than ever. 

I understand politics, I really do.  I get it.  I know that sometimes you have to make back room deals with people you don’t agree with, about matters you can barely stomach, just so you can get your pet project through.  I realize that sometimes progress is slow, or must take a step backwards even, before 2 steps forward can be achieved.  But when did it become normal practice to instill fear and hate?  When did it become normal to misrepresent the facts anytime it suited your needs?  When did outright lies and smear campaigns become not only accepted but seemingly  necessary.  Now both sides would have us believe the other side does it more or “better”.   Both sides surely do it….one side does it consistently, or is that constantly? 

I am fond of pointing out to just about anybody that will listen, that our political beliefs come from the same place our religious beliefs come from, our EMOTIONS.  Yes I know, those smart enough  to be reading this, also believe they are smart enough to set aside emotion and make THEIR decisions based on fact.  Unfortunately, this is simply not true.  Once we accept a thought as true we will go to extreme lengths to validate that belief to ourselves as well as others.  We need not look very hard to see this truism in our everyday lives.  For instance, in a polling of Americans 69% say that Republicans will/can do better at decreasing the deficit.  Yet, NOT ONE Republican president has decreased the deficit since Nixon.  NOT ONE! 











 Now why would the majority of Americans look so kindly upon the fiscal prowess of repubs even though history shows us otherwise?  Because that is, and has been, and probably always will be, a Republican talking point. It is true that if you yell something enough times it becomes true for a large percentage of the populous.  More examples you say?    OK:

25% of repubs believe Obama was born in Kenya. Another 18% are unsure.   This means that 43% of Americans either think or are unsure if we have a legitimate President sitting in the White House.

 20%  of Repubs say Obama is doing many of the same things Hitler did. When pressed most cannot name one concrete thing…most just mutter about Obama being a socialist…apparently Hitler was a closet socialist.

60% of repubs believe Obama enacted TARP not Bush

Over half of repubs believe the earth is only 6000 years old. 

Here are some things that may seem hypocritical to some that repubs accept as true.

Government should limit its powers to those explicitly granted in the Constitution, except when it comes to gay marriage and abortion.

Global warming is junk science, but Creationism should be taught in schools.

Jesus loves you and shares your hatred of homosexuals.

Condoms should be kept out of schools because they increase the likelihood of children having sex.

There are at least 50 Republican politicians that believe abortion should be illegal even in the event of incest or rape.

.Almost every Republican politician voted yes on the bill that paved the way for the Iraqi government to pay for health care for all its citizens.  Yes, Universal Health care. None, not one , brought up this interesting proposal for the United States.

Lying about having sex with someone is an impeachable offense, but lying to your country and others about weapons of mass destruction to facilitate an unjust war, well that’s just good sound defense policy.

Well, I could go on and on.  For my own sanity I need to stop here.  Yes I have a huge list of stupid things democrats believe as well.   For instance, dems believe that if you present the American public with the facts, they will make a reasoned well informed decision.  Democrats are so STUPID. They are the perennial Charlie Brown to the republican Lucy.  If only that ball would be held still!!

Now we have a new wing of the republican party.  The Tea party. The party whose candidates seem to refuse to go on any channel but Fox.  You know, years ago if a candidate for public office refused interviews they would be publicly mocked and scorned. Now it is established Repub strategy to ignore mainstream press and ONLY go on Fox News. And where is the outcry from the supposed biased media? They still present these clowns like Angle, Brewer,O' Donnel, Miller and the like, as viable candidates with "something to say". The media today has become a joke. When our politicians and candidates LIE they should be called out on it. Not every position has two sides...sometimes facts are facts and lies are lies. Until our media calls out these clowns the tea party will continue to thrive. We have got to stop making it seem that a lie is somehow just a differing of opinion. When you are caught red handed telling untruths, especially when it is meant to misinform the people you are (mis)representing, you should be called out on it. Of course we are the main culprits in all this hate and fear in our political system. We buy right into it and instead of demanding something better, we only demand more of the same.  Now it is the norm to demonize, literally and figuratively those we disagree with. It is the norm to "believe" things even most children would scoff at.  You might be asking yourself if 43% of Americans believe Obama might not be an American why is there not a revolt?  Why are we not rioting in the streets? Well deep down inside those that "claim" hes a Kenyan, actually know better.  Its just more fun and beneficial to spout the nonsense.  Surely nobody with a brain actually thinks Rush Limbaugh doesn't KNOW Obama was born in America.  He just likes to rile up his listeners.  NO only 20% actually believe Obama was born in Kenya.  I'm not sure if the remaining 23% should be held in higher regard though.  Pretending you believe a lie might be worse than believing the lie to begin with. Actually I am pretty sure it is.  Unless of course you are a politician, or Fox News.

My professor was right. Of course now that I think about it, he must have been a liberal, socialist, fascist, elitist commie.  Yeah , I am pretty sure he was.

 thanks for listening

durastorm