I have been focussing on my own silly internal state on this here little weblog but this article on the British political website Spiked could be equally applied to the US and it’s own decprit politicdal system devoid of idea playing only fear.

This ending paragraph sums up our political lives quite well:

What the ‘politics of fear’ really expresses is the renunciation of politics. Unlike the politics of fear pursued by authoritarian regimes and dictatorships, it has no clearly focused objective. There is no big plan behind the elaboration of the recent raft of illiberal government measures. For the political establishment, one of the attractions of the politics of fear is that it absolves its practitioners of having to formulate what they actually stand for. Of course it does not make it any better that freedom in Britain is being undermined, not by a malevolent conspiracy, but by a powerful sense of stasis.

What I don’t understand, and consider a personal failing since I don’t understand it, is how the political parties that we’re stuck with for the time being seem to miss this obvious path to power. Fear is not a motivating factor in any way. If you really were trying to gain political power nad influence why wouldn’t you use the most obvious and persuasive power of positve rhetorical.

Generals of old never went into battle with speeches that went like this:

“Sure we’re in for a struggle against an enemy that’s smarter and faster than we are. Most of you will probably die a horrible death and I’ll be right behind you making sure the paperwork is sent to your families. Now get out there and do a pretty good job! And remember, you’re responsible for your own spears, if you lose them you or your families willl be charged for a replacement!”

It baffles me that a leader would fail to use the most obvious power they have…the power to lead. I blame the fucking MBAization of the elite. They’ve all learned how to “manage” but, despite a billion books all saying the same pandering to unearned power bullshit, they’ve just learned how to exploit and exploitation is always a destructive process.

I could go on and on but I suspect that if I did I’d just show myself to be the fool I am. Thus, I will simply exhort you to remember that the world is a better place and it has ever been and every time you’re afraid you let “them” win (assume “them” is the opposite of what you think of yourself).

Or to quote a cartoon character of a man, you have nothing to fear but fear itself. Well, maybe you should fear a guy with a machete but how many of them do you meet on the street?

[aside: A friend and I have pondered doing a social experiment where we carry around fake uy bloody severed heads and politely ask strangers for directions to a building nearby. I suspect that people would try their best to ignore the bloody severed head because social convention demands politeness and attempt to offer directional guidance.

Videotaping such things requires a lot of effort though and I’ve been having trouble just getting to the coffee that allows me to type this very message of hope.]