"While nearly a decade ago, Americans celebrated the arrival of "hope and change", since then "hope" (not to mention "change") has been all but eradicated (if only for the vast majority of the population), and has been replaced with an emotion that is its polar opposite. Fear." Does the data actually show fear has increased? I have not observed this. In '08 people were overwrought about the economic crisis. President Bush used fear to push for gov't action using borrowed money. That was his whole presidency: stoking fears to justify more gov't power and spending. I voted for the opposite: change and hope (not fear). It turned out President Obama used fear to push even more gov't spending of borrowed money. I was really disappointed. He was supposed to be the master of hope and good speeches. He could have given amazing speeches saying there's nothing to fear b/c the economy is just people helping one another for money and if we all just do that capital will find its way to worthy project w/ or w/o the too-big-to-fail financial instituions. I truly believe President Obama weighed the cost lost of GDP due to idle production factors against the interest on the debt and concluded bailouts and stimulus were worthwhile. Maybe that was right numerically, but there's an intangible benefit to hope. There's a huge benefit to avoiding moral hazard and the general notion that gov't action is the answer. It was really bad that he so strongly branded himself as being about hope and change (different from President Bush), which I strongly believe in, and went to fear almost immediately.
I was looking at that and it's not really a fear is it? I mean we know there is corruption, I want it to end, do my best to vote encumbants out, but do not fear it. Same thing, I keep looking for my global warming fear gene but cannot locate it.
Sorry for the late reply, but I encourage you to read Carol Quigley's seminal "Tragedy and Hope" written in 1966. Mr. Quigley was among the self-proclaimed "elite" and wrote a book explaining their goals. The scary thing is he AGREED with them on their goals but disagreed about the METHOD on how accomplish them. What are the goals? I leave you to find out.
But regarding 'voting the rascals out' ~ here's a quote by him: “The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can ‘throw the rascals out’ at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy” (Georgetown University Professor Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope, 1966.)
Does the data actually show fear has increased? I have not observed this. In '08 people were overwrought about the economic crisis. President Bush used fear to push for gov't action using borrowed money. That was his whole presidency: stoking fears to justify more gov't power and spending. I voted for the opposite: change and hope (not fear). It turned out President Obama used fear to push even more gov't spending of borrowed money. I was really disappointed. He was supposed to be the master of hope and good speeches. He could have given amazing speeches saying there's nothing to fear b/c the economy is just people helping one another for money and if we all just do that capital will find its way to worthy project w/ or w/o the too-big-to-fail financial instituions. I truly believe President Obama weighed the cost lost of GDP due to idle production factors against the interest on the debt and concluded bailouts and stimulus were worthwhile. Maybe that was right numerically, but there's an intangible benefit to hope. There's a huge benefit to avoiding moral hazard and the general notion that gov't action is the answer. It was really bad that he so strongly branded himself as being about hope and change (different from President Bush), which I strongly believe in, and went to fear almost immediately.
But regarding 'voting the rascals out' ~ here's a quote by him: “The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can ‘throw the rascals out’ at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy” (Georgetown University Professor Carroll Quigley, Tragedy and Hope, 1966.)
Basil: "What’s the other?"
Austin Powers: "Huh?"
Basil: "What’s the other thing that scares you?"
Austin Powers: "Carnies. Circus folk. Nomads, you know. Smell like cabbage. Small hands."