The Politics of Fear/Anger

[winsor 186]

A long time ago I was leaving a class on War Crimes ("War Crimes are bad, m'kay?"), and discussing the issue with a colleague with a C.I.B..

His response was to the effect of "we did it as a matter of survival."

Stunned, I asked him if he was for real, and he assured me that he was entirely so.

His point was that our guys pounding through the bush had an average of less than 6 months in country. The Opposition had an average of 25 years.

He contended that the Viet Cong and NVA were very smart, very capable and quite patient, and generally would not engage unless they had an overwhelming advantage, as well as a solid plan B, C and occasionally D.

According to him, the only time our guys had an even chance was if we could piss the opposition off enough that they made mistakes. The way to do that was to figure out what motivated them and to screw with it severely.

By desecrating the bodies of the dead, they were not able to 'move on.' This engendered enough fear and anger among the comrades of defiled dead that they were no longer satisfied to wait until the time was right - they wanted to go out and kill the sonsofbitches who had done such Bad Things.

They would then set off booby traps of either side, walk into ambushes and so forth.

My take away from this is that anger and fear are the flip sides of the same coin, and angry and/or frightened people are given to bad and self-destructive decision making. in general, angry/fearful people become retarded assholes. I have seen examples of this numerous times over the years.

Similar to the advertising adage that, if you get over an 8th grade level, you have lost half your market audience (I think that's optimistic), if you appeal to the intellect of the voting public, you will reach a very bright minority at best.

If, OTOH, you play on the fears of the voting public, the stupid people are yours to begin with, and rather a few of the otherwise bright voters will find their inner idiot and join the baying mob.

There is a real knack demonstrated by effective demagogues, a kind of perverse genius. Lesser talents can do badly enough that a real threat seems sympathetic. The House Unamerican Activities Commission was so unamerican, for example, that Tailgunner Joe McCarthy made Communists look good by comparison - a real accomplishment, as my time in Socialist Workers' Paradises indicates that Communists suck out loud. I'm not a big fan of religions in general, and Communism is one of my least favorite.

One thing to note about demons is that many of them are very real, and very nasty. The most effective way to whip the populous into a frenzy is to cherry pick the most particularly nasty realities that present themselves, and to promise to lead the fight against them.

History is rife with cases of one charismatic leader or another who successfully played on the fears of a population that one would expect to be too sophisticated to fall for such a ploy, and the results are rarely good.

According to Henry L. Mencken, "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."

On the whole I tend to agree with him, and I think this election cycle is but a case in point. The key difference between the candidates is their choice of hobgoblins.


BSBD,

Winsor

[masterblaster72 0]

That's a bit too much insight for a forum where troll posts linking to commondreams or breitbart are par for the course. Be careful or you might get banned

In addition to the hobgoblins voters fear, the type of demagogue people choose to believe in an election is a factor as well. I tend to believe the demagogue who travels economy class whose parents came to the country with nothing and who made something of himself entirely on his own; I give far less attention to the types demanding to be flown in private jets for a campaign stop or a paid speech, or the mean-spirited childish bullies not the least bit grounded in reality.

What you mentioned about the candidate who appeals to the intellect is likely accurate, though each election cycle I do hope for a different outcome.

Great read with spot-on observations, thanks for that.

Be humble, ask questions, listen, learn, follow the golden rule, talk when necessary, and know when to shut the fuck up.

[gowlerk 1,914]

That is very cogent explanation. It's not the first time I've heard the theory of fear. Some believe that love and fear are the only two emotions, all the others are just variations. Other believe in just one, fear, and consider love to be just a temporary absence of fear.

I feel that many people are just willing to be led by their noses along the path of least resistance due to plain mental laziness. I really believe that America is so rich, and so safe, that people are just bored. Life needs challenges and excitement. If we don't get enough stimulation we look for it. Demagogues riling the population up provide some of the missing emotion.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[RonD1120 58]

My wife and I were discussing our current presidential circus. We agreed that our anger/fear strongly influences us to make a decision for Donald Trump. In so doing, we would be in the same camp with our peer group.

However, we decided that the proper decision for the good of the country is Ted Cruz.

Now we have to sell it.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[winsor 186]

RonD1120

My wife and I were discussing our current presidential circus. We agreed that our anger/fear strongly influences us to make a decision for Donald Trump. In so doing, we would be in the same camp with our peer group.

However, we decided that the proper decision for the good of the country is Ted Cruz.

Now we have to sell it.

Be advised that Ted Cruz is a product of Harvard Law. Saying what you want to hear is his stock in trade.

The principle of doing the same thing and expecting different results applies here.

[kallend 1,625]

RonD1120

However, we decided that the proper decision for the good of the country is Ted Cruz.

Now we have to sell it.

Why don't you use his full name, in the same way you do with President Obama? Is there something about it that you don't like?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[gowlerk 1,914]

kallend

***

However, we decided that the proper decision for the good of the country is Ted Cruz.

Now we have to sell it.

Why don't you use his full name, in the same way you do with President Obama? Is there something about it that you don't like?

Rafael Edward "Ted" Cruz He will need to become President before he rates the honorific "REC". BHO wears his with pride!

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[RonD1120 58]

winsor

***My wife and I were discussing our current presidential circus. We agreed that our anger/fear strongly influences us to make a decision for Donald Trump. In so doing, we would be in the same camp with our peer group.

However, we decided that the proper decision for the good of the country is Ted Cruz.

Now we have to sell it.

Be advised that Ted Cruz is a product of Harvard Law. Saying what you want to hear is his stock in trade.

The principle of doing the same thing and expecting different results applies here.

I have no argument there.

Cruz is the only candidate campaigning on upholding the U.S. Constitution.

The others are authoritarian, socialist/progressive and status quo.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[RonD1120 58]

See gowlerk's response above.

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[winsor 186]

RonD1120

******My wife and I were discussing our current presidential circus. We agreed that our anger/fear strongly influences us to make a decision for Donald Trump. In so doing, we would be in the same camp with our peer group.

However, we decided that the proper decision for the good of the country is Ted Cruz.

Now we have to sell it.

Be advised that Ted Cruz is a product of Harvard Law. Saying what you want to hear is his stock in trade.

The principle of doing the same thing and expecting different results applies here.

I have no argument there.

Cruz is the only candidate campaigning on upholding the U.S. Constitution.

The others are authoritarian, socialist/progressive and status quo.

You should include 'batshit crazy' to cover the bases.

[RonD1120 58]

Good one!

Look for the shiny things of God revealed by the Holy Spirit. They only last for an instant but it is a Holy Instant. Let your soul absorb them.

[turtlespeed 212]

RonD1120

Good one!

Criminalistic, Delusional, Borderline Insane, there are so many many ways to describe the two of them. .. .

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[tonyhays 86]

Quote

Cruz is the only candidate campaigning on upholding the U.S. Constitution.

What part of giving personhood status to fetus's and zygotes thus bypassing the supreme court "upholding the U.S. Constitution"?

“That which can be asserted without evidence, can be dismissed without evidence.”

[Stumpy 256]

tonyhays

Quote

Cruz is the only candidate campaigning on upholding the U.S. Constitution.

What part of giving personhood status to fetus's and zygotes thus bypassing the supreme court "upholding the U.S. Constitution"?

I'm pretty sure Ron is trolling again because no-one is that dumb.

Never try to eat more than you can lift

[rushmc 18]

tonyhays

Quote

Cruz is the only candidate campaigning on upholding the U.S. Constitution.

What part of giving personhood status to fetus's and zygotes thus bypassing the supreme court "upholding the U.S. Constitution"?

"Bypassing the supreme court"?

The SC job is to uphold the Constitution . Should any article be changed by the due power given the legislator, it is the SC duty to uphold those changes.

It is NOT the job of the SC to create laws

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[rushmc 18]

Stumpy

***

Quote

Cruz is the only candidate campaigning on upholding the U.S. Constitution.

What part of giving personhood status to fetus's and zygotes thus bypassing the supreme court "upholding the U.S. Constitution"?

I'm pretty sure Ron is trolling again because no-one is that dumb.

There are some here who are
And it sure as hell is NOT Ron

Bypassing the SC???? WTF dude.....

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[normiss 622]

You've clearly missed the US news over the last 40 days of having Faketriots declare war on the US and threaten to shoot federals.



In the end, all they wanted was weed and to just go home.
They got neither.

Sadly, there ARE Americans that dumb. Worse still, they claim to understand the constitution better than anyone. While spitting out chaw.

[gowlerk 1,914]

Quote

Worse still, they claim to understand the constitution better than anyone. While spitting out chaw.

Meanwhile, the POTUS is a former constitution law professor who these chaw spittin' experts say is not eligible!

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[normiss 622]

Maybe it's a good thing they won't be allowed to vote again.

They're really going to dislike not being legal to have weapons again too.


All of this based on delusional fear and anger.

UFO's! The government is genetically modifying people! The nuke plants are leaking! Syria was a good country! I just wanted weed man!

[gowlerk 1,914]

Quote

Syria was a good country! I just wanted weed man!

Middle east politics is troubling. Sometime in the mid 70's my source of red Lebanese hash dried up. Even the blonde and the Moroccan stuff was gone. All because of those confusing civil wars. I never did like the black Pakistani stuff nearly as much. Even if some of it did have opium streaks in it.

Always remember the brave children who died defending your right to bear arms. Freedom is not free.

[rushmc 18]

gowlerk

Quote

Worse still, they claim to understand the constitution better than anyone. While spitting out chaw.

Meanwhile, the POTUS is a former constitution law professor who these chaw spittin' experts say is not eligible!

Hmmmmm

right in there with the bigot crowd huh.......

oh sorry
I forget liberals can not have those kind of views

Never mind

"America will never be destroyed from the outside,
if we falter and lose our freedoms,
it will be because we destroyed ourselves."
Abraham Lincoln

[normiss 622]

In the Navy in the early 80's, it came in by ship.
Seems a LOT of guys took up scuba diving while overseas, at least to the point of buying tanks anyway. Apparently, it's hard to inspect a charged canister.

Every table top in the barracks was stained from that shit.

[ryoder 1,387]

I saw an article about this blog posting by Mark Cuaban today.
He has some good points, and this one in particular is excellent:

Quote

3. There has not been a single instance of leadership from any of the candidates

Bitching about everyone else is not leadership. It may play to the base, but it certainly doesn’t reflect an ability to lead. This years candidates seem to want to prove to everyone that they conform to “party principles” rather than offering strategies and solutions and rallying consensus behind it. In fact, they argue with each other about who conforms to party standards more. IMHO, this is just crazy.

The democrats argue about who can give away more stuff and is more progressive. The republicans argue about who is the purer conservative and how hard they will work to undo what is already done. Both sides stick purely to issues that are raised in polls and in debates. None of the candidates have moved into new territory.

It’s as if there is an island for democrats and an island for republicans and no one ventures off.

A leader would come up with new ideas and new solutions for issues that are outside what everyone is talking about and make people realize just how important they are to the country. It may not seem like it sometimes, but this country does want exciting new ideas. We want to know there is a positive direction for us. The future of this country can’t just be about free stuff, raising taxes on the rich or cutting taxes for everyone, keeping people out and undoing what is already done.

There are new ideas in this world that matter. It would be nice to get one from a Presidential candidate.

Source: http://blogmaverick.com/2016/02/08/some-thoughts-on-the-presidential-race-and-sociocapitalism/

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[TriGirl 268]

normiss

Maybe it's a good thing they won't be allowed to vote again.

They're really going to dislike not being legal to have weapons again too.

All of this based on delusional fear and anger.

UFO's! The government is genetically modifying people! The nuke plants are leaking! Syria was a good country! I just wanted weed man!

You forgot one: "The government wants to take away your guns!"

See the upside, and always wear your parachute! -- Christopher Titus

Shut Up & Jump!

[billvon 2,400]

>Cruz is the only candidate campaigning on upholding the U.S. Constitution.

Except for Article 2, Section 1 of course. And Article 2, section 2. And the First Amendment. But other than that, he will strictly uphold the Constitution! Well, not the Eighth Amendment. Or some of those other ones.

But definitely the Second Amendment. No doubt about that.