The Politics of Fear

The Politics of Fear

I read well written 'talk' from 2004 by Andy Blunden: "Fixing Australia: The politics of Fear" 

It's long but well researched and worth a read! Blunden talks about scare campaigns, why they work and how we perceive threats.

Today people tend to get alarmed about threats to them personally, or their children. People get afraid of new diseases, food additives, violent attacks by foreigners, sexual predators, and so on, while the very fabric of society which could keep them safe is being withered away...

...People claim something or someone to be a threat because really, they find the person or their lifestyle disgusting and morally reprehensible - and therefore dangerous. We heap shame on to the targets of our attack by painting them as threatening.

Politicians use these fears. Unfortunately, I think this constant harping on non-existent (or low probability) threats is turning otherwise reasonable and fair minded Australians in to rednecks.

I understand why politicians do this.It gets votes - because people like me (and you) listen to it, and we fall for it more often than not! I HATE IT, but I understand it. 

My candidates of choice won't play the fear card, I really don't want to hear about: terrorism; national security; child molesters; the perils of drugs; the carnage on our roads; the sky is falling; how this tax will destroy our country and cause plagues of locusts and rivers to run red with blood. 

I don't want to hear any of this bullshit, unless it can be backed up with some rational and plausible evidence that has been moderated to reflect the real probability of these events occurring, and the real threats that they present.