by David Singhiser

Created on: July 10, 2008

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

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