Fear factor

[jbfam4]

Posted on Tue, Jan. 31, 2006

Fear factor
http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/opinion/13754039.htm
By Leonard Pitts
The Miami Herald
Karl Rove said in a recent speech that this year's midterm election will be about security. So you know it will be about fear.


Experience tells us that with this crew, security is just a code word for fear. So this election will hinge on making people think that terrorists are going to get 'em if they don't vote Republican.


A ruinous war fought under false pretenses? Sept. 11.

Indefinite detention of alleged terrorists? Sept. 11.

Torture? Sept. 11.

The right of the people to dissent? Sept. 11.

Spying on Americans in violation of federal law? Sept. 11.

A growing record of incompetence and lies? Sept. 11.

Fear is the president's Get out of Jail Free card. It works because panicked people are not thinking people. If you can convince them that Osama bin Laden is coming up the driveway and only you can save them, they'll turn a blind eye while you break the law, steal their rights, rape the Constitution itself.

So while this willingness to use fear as a tool of manipulation is distressing, what's more distressing is the willingness of some to be manipulated. Consider the howls of outrage you don't hear as rights are abrogated and laws broken. Fear makes us sheep.

[RufusEarl]

1. If terrorist don't get them, Die-Bold will