Have you ever noticed how there's nothing like an election campaign to bring out the absolute worst in people? Politicians are prostitutes for power most of the time, but that's nothing compared to what they're like when seeking office. It's bad enough if they've never been in power, but give them a taste, and they're worse then a junkie desperate for a fix.
Look at how wild eyed they start getting near the end of a close campaign; they're going to promise just about anything and everything to get those few votes they think might put them over the edge. I know our system is different up here in Canada from those elsewhere in the world, we still run on the old constitutional monarchy, federalist system, but politicians are the same the world over no matter what the circumstances.
In fact, it's safe to say that one thing every society on the face of the earth has in common is a power hungry politician. It doesn't matter if it's a military dictatorship or some sort of democracy, those in power will do anything they can to stay in power. Believe me if the guys in Ottawa, or anywhere else in the world where they have elections, could figure out how they could use the army to avoid an election they would.
Seriously though, look at politicians' behaviour during elections; what are their two favourite tactics? They either smear their opponent with so much dirt that he or she looks like they have been wallowing with pigs all their lives, or they play on the voters worst fears. The quickest way to cast aspersions on your opponent is to tell the voters that he or she will make their worst fears come true, and that only you can keep them safe.
It doesn't matter whether the danger even exists, in fact it's best if you have to warn them of the dangers that will beset them if your opponent wins. If you hadn't told them they would have never known your opponent was prepared to let child molesters teach their children – something that you would never let happen when you win with a majority.
For those of you who think that's a little over the top, let me remind you of what George Bush senior did in the 1988 election to Michael Dukakis. One prisoner who was paroled when Dukakis was Governor of Massachusettes reoffended. Of course, it didn't hurt that the man in question was black, because that played on all the worst prejudices and fears. All of sudden if Dukakis were elected President nobody's lily-white daughter would be safe from mean black rapists prowling the streets.
Article comments
1 - Doug Hunter
It's interesting that you're blinded to the same tactics used by the left. You mention that all politicians use them but fail to provide an example from your favorite side of the political spectrum. That's typical of a partisan but it doesn't make any of your points less valid, just in need of balance.
For a great example of the left wings use of fear reread your own article and see how many times you made references to race and racism. Scaring minorities into thinking everyone is out to get them sure is a motivating factor in getting them to the polls. You write an article on the politics of fear and can't even to manage to avoid using it's tactics within your own writings, how can you expect politicians to act any differently?
Is there even a real alternative to fear? Problems cause fear whether it's repeat offenders, lack of retirement funds, or decreased access to healthcare. Fear causes people to look to the government for security. Politicians simply respond to that.
2 - Richard Marcus
Doug
While I'm not going to deny my bias, and why should I, I'm sure you don't deny yours either, I would like to point to the second last paragraph where I refer to the way the left in Canada do their best to make people scared of our current Prime Minister.
I'm well aware they all do it, and I agree with your final point too, the problem is that politicians on both sides are very good at doing anything except trying to make us fear the opponent. It would be much better if they did something real to asuage our fears rather than play on them in order to get votes.
Thanks for your comment, I like intelligence no matter what political flavour it comes in -
cheers
Richard
3 - Richard Marcus
Oh, typos are the bain of my existence - that should have been "politicians 'aren't' very good at doing anything except trying to make us fear 'their' opponent."
sorry about that
Richard
4 - Clavos
Typos are the bane of every writer's existence.
5 - Baritone
I have to agree with Doug, at least in part. To a degree politics is about fear as Doug points out. What I find offensive - and I have been guilty of this as well - is our tendancy to demonize the opposition, and make broad accusations that blanket everyone perceived to be on the other side of the coin.
I am, in most regards a lefty. (Hell, I'm even left handed.) Conservatives are busy lambasting Clinton often claiming she's evil incarnate. Obviously, I don't agree. I would not vote for any of the declaired - or undeclaired - Rep candidates. But I don't see any of them as evil.
I see GW as basically stupid, but not evil. I don't think Cheney is ... Wait a minute. I DO think Cheney is evil, but he's an exception. Ah, but then there's Rumsfeld, and, oh yeah, Wolfowitz, and... well, what was I saying?
Anyway, demonizing the opposition helps to raise people's emotion and their blood pressure. It is useful to get people pissed off at the opposition in the belief that they are, in fact, evil, bent on the destruction of life as we know it. That's how you facilitate getting out the vote.
I live in Indianapolis. We are currently in the throws of a contentious mayoral race (is there any other kind?) The current democratic mayor, Bart Peterson is being attacked due to a glitch in property tax assessments. However, the assessment process, while done at the county level is actually a function of the state. Peterson actually took steps to alleviate the problem, but he may well wind up taking the fall for the whole mess. "Peterson Lies" signs have popped up everywhere around town. I don't know all the whys and wherefores of the situation, but it seems to me that in this matter, Peterson is the goat, or the sacrificial lamb. He, and his administration are being demonized by the oppostion regarding an issue over which Peterson had little or no control. Doesn't matter. If Peterson winds up getting the boot, the winners won't give a shit about whether or not the tax issue was his fault or not. If it gets them in office, that's all that matters.
I couldn't be a politician. It is pretty much necessary to sell your soul to become a candidate for pretty much any public office. My brother in-law is a Dem mayoral candidate in a small Indiana town. The powers that be in the local party came to him and cajoled him into running. After all, that's a pretty big ego booster. Everything was pretty much sweetness and light until the last few weeks. Now they are getting down to the nitty gritty. The gloves are coming off. He is being attacked from every which way - there's a lot of nasty blogging on the internet. All kinds of accusations are being made - both political and personal. Of course, it works both ways. My brother in-law has little input regarding the campaign himself, but there are allegations of all kinds against his opponents - a Rep and an independent - coming out of his camp as well.
I think he's getting the hang of it, though. At first he became insensed at some of the stuff that was appearing on line and in the local newspapers - this race is much too small a potato to get any other media attention. He has a reputation for having a short fuse. But, now he's just rolling with the punches. He's got a handful of apppearances coming up between now and the November election. There may be a debate. He will make his appearances, do what he must to please his sponsors, but otherwise, he's staying out of the fray. What polls there have been, my brother in-law has a small, but as his backers claim, significant lead. I just know that if he wins, I ain't gonna call him "Your Honor."
Baritone
6 - Dr Dreadful
Clavos, #4:
Shouldn't that be, "Tapirs are the bang of every whiter's exit fence"?
:-D
7 - Clavos
See what I mean, Doc?
8 - moonraven
"Why of course the people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
Quote by: Hermann Goering
(1893-1946) Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, President of the Reichstag, Prime Minister of Prussia and, as Hitler's designated successor, the second man in the Third Reich. [Göring]
Date: April 18, 1946
Source: Nuremberg Diary (Farrar, Straus & Co 1947), by Gustave Gilbert (an Allied appointed psychologist), who visited daily with Goering and his cronies in their cells, afterwards making notes and ultimately writing the book about these conversations.
Even easier in the US--a nation of cowardly consumers.
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping.
9 - Clavos
"When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping."
And this redneck gusano swamp creature is glad of that, 'cause my portfolio keeps going up as a result.
Consumerism RULES!!
10 - Knobby
"By saying things like real leadership would uphold the law, they are letting the people know they wouldn't let a bunch of pesky Redskins hold up a housing development."
Are the Progressive Conservatives in Ontario really so retarded that they believe stealing land from the Mohawks is upholding the law?
11 - Richard Marcus
Knobby
In a word, yes. In fact the protesters are being accused of acting outside the law and having no respect for the rules of the community.
Nobody talks about the orginal crime except the Mohawks, and we all know they're biased.
It's okay - the PC's got creamed in last night's election - the leader didn't even win his own seat.
cheers
Richard
12 - moonraven
Just a fucking minute, there.
We members of the Mohawk Nation have as much right to be biased as anyone else.
More rights than YOU.
We also have the right to be right--which you do not.
13 - REMF
Moon;
What percentage native American are you?
14 - Knobby
"and we all know they're biased."
Tongue-in-cheek?
15 - Dave Nalle
Moon. Rights are rights. They aren't conveyed by race or by membership in a group or by where you were born or who your grandparents were.
Dave
16 - justoneman
Moonie..heres a history lesson for you.."choke, gasp, snort...hahaha" people of color were discriminating, enslaving and killing each other long before they ever saw a white man..
JOM
17 - Dr Dreadful
JOM:
And white men also were discriminating against, enslaving and killing each other long before they ever saw a person of color (if that time indeed ever existed).
Your point is?
18 - moonraven
JOM never has a point.
He just wants attention.
Ditto for Nalle.
I can't say for sure what percentage Mohawk I am as it is unclear whether my grandfather was half or 3 quarters.
Not that it is anyone's business.
How white are you gringos?
19 - Kennis
*sigh*
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
Fat chance when everyone believes they're right.