The Politics of Fear

Seventy – five years ago in his first inaugural address Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." So eloquent, so simple but was it merely a rhetorical flourish to hide the dangers the nation faced: unemployment, hunger, even revolution? In the midst of suffering, he gave comfort, but what did he mean? How can one fear fear? How is fear more dangerous? I never understood; I never realized that for most of my adult life I voted in fear; I never realized the profound truth of those ten simple words, until now.

Throughout the nation, Democrats tell of McCain's temper, his flip-flops, his likelihood in starting more wars, or at least continuing Bush's adventures in the Middle East. Republicans, and at one time Hillary, focused on Obama's church, his middle name, lack of lapel pin, or even where he placed his hand during the Pledge of Allegiance (such inane nonsense!). The more serious objections to his candidacy are his lack of experience, his flip- flops, and his inclination to raise taxes. The common theme in both parties, however, is not to allow the opposition to win, in other words: vote for the lesser of two evils. We are always voting for the lesser of two evils; just think what will happen if the greater evil wins!

The fear the two parties instill in their constituents keeps people from listening to each other, from learning about the real issues, of finding solutions to the Republic's problems. The media and the politicians focus instead on non-issues, hiding or ignoring the true problems and solutions. McCain and Obama offer differences in tactics, or at most strategy, but not policy.

Neither candidate comprehends a non-interventionist foreign policy. McCain in one debate confused non-interventionism with isolationism. Obama voted against the invasion of Iraq but saw no problem in bombing Pakistan. If there is a difference, they debate on whether to use more carrots or more sticks. Both will continue to intervene abroad further damaging our reputation and safety. Both will bully other nations, one perhaps with "humane" sanctions (remember the children and sick of Iraq), the other, most likely with bombs. Neither tactic, however, will endear us to the rest of the world. The wars on terror and drugs create an atmosphere of fear where we prefer security to liberty, thus opening the way to destroy the Bill of Rights.

In defense of civil liberties, Obama had a stronger claim to our support but now voted with McCain (if McCain had bothered to show) for the new FISA bill. Just as he voted against the war then voted to continue it, he voted against the earlier FISA bill and promised to filibuster the new one, but instead he has voted for it, further weakening the Fourth Amendment. Why the change? Is it because now, foreseeing his chance to be president, he prefers, like McCain, to have imperial executive powers, or more chilling, because the surveillance has worked on him and he had no choice? Both have shown their inclination to increase the power of government at the expense of the states and the people. Both are likely to believe in government solutions instead of allowing a free and independent citizenry to find solutions on their own. Neither has strongly complained of the loss of civil liberties, the trampling of the Constitution, the ignoring of the Bill of Rights. Both have played the security card over defending liberty. Both know that national security will increase their power, while individual liberty will limit it.

McCain once told of his weakness in understanding economics, now, of course, he denies ever saying that, but he has yet to demonstrate any basic understanding of how the government distorts the economy. Obama shows no understanding either. They both think that tax increases will increase the revenue for the government to spend but do not understand how that weakens the economy. Neither shows any serious desire to cut spending. The most McCain wants to cut are earmarks, but that doesn't change the amount of money spent and further removes our control by giving the power of allocating the funds from our representatives to bureaucrats. Neither candidate shows any understanding of the role the Federal Reserve Bank plays in allowing for the overspending and the resultant inflation that ultimately hurts the poor and lower middle classes the hardest.

Our fear has kept us from looking at alternatives, alternatives we prefer, but cannot believe possible. Our fear keeps us from believing that, as Thomas Paine said, "we have it in our power to begin the world anew," and instead makes us apathetic. This apathy and fear gives power and courage to the elite to further suppress our rights and liberties. When will we stop hating and fearing each other? When will we realize that we are not a democracy where the majority can take our rights away but a Republic that protects the rights of all? When will we trust each other to stand together to take back our rights that no government, not even the Constitution gives, but are ours because we are human? When will we demand that all government officials follow the Constitution? When will we say enough is enough: we will fear no more; we will not allow security to trump liberty; we are free and shall remain so forever!?

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