Politics of Fear

the New Yorker Obama cover and the McCain Vanity Fair cover

I'm fascinated. The battle has to do, again, with "the hearts and minds" of the electorate and controlling what we think is good and bad so approbation, money, and eventual votes may be directed "appropriately".

Starting point: Fear those Other People who are extremists and will do whatever it takes to control our political and then daily life. Trust your fear.

Media-ted response: Politics of Fear = bad. Don't let those Other People cause you to vote based on your fear.

But what are the appropriate uses of your legitimate fear/concern that arises from our actual political history? The Obamas are certainly not islamist terrorists while McCain certainly is a continuation of Bush and the empire agenda. Is it as obvious as the New Yorker satire serves The Truth and Vanity Fair is in someone's pocket not interested in same? Good guys vs Those Other People simplicity? Appreciation or condemnation of political campaign maneuvering facilitated by Those Other People in partisan media outlets?

Am I (is everyone) simply attempting to increase their own power by making their tribe more influential? Am I (or They) to be dismissed because, of the two viable choices, I support Obama and you should fear my making you fear Those Other People with this critical inquiry? What does t/Truth look like?

Carbon-free: Welcome to the Mainstream

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