lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

How often do politicians and politician wannabe's, use our fears and anxieties against us? Probably every time they open their mouths. The 20th century is rife with examples, often firing up civilians to the point of violence against their neighbors, the civil war being just one example. Citizens were "informing" on their neighbors during WWI, children informing on their own parents, accusing each other of unpatriotic behavior. Vigilante mobs were formed to track down men avoiding being inducted into the Army, etc., etc. What prompted this violence between Americans? Yep, you guessed it, dire warnings issued by politicians of every stripe.

How does one manipulate large numbers of people? Easy, scare the crap out of them. Orson Wells got the whole nation geared up for an alien invasion, with a joke delivered via radio with his "war of the worlds" episode. Stoke people's fears, fan their anxieties, tell them how to relieve those, then give them step by step instructions and they'll do what you want.

Today, we're dealing with multiple doomsday messages at once; "v**e for THEM and THIS is gonna happen, don't v**e for US and THIS is gonna happen, they're not going to fix THIS problem but I will, I and I alone can fix this". Everyone running for an office or re-e******n, has a list of dire predictions about stuff that's going to happen if they aren't elected. Pick something that you're concerned about, and some politician has it on their list.

Here's the reality about that; Rarely do the dire predictions come to pass, rarely do politicians ( or wannabe's ) actually relieve the fears they accentuated during their campaigns ( why ruin a good fear that got you elected, when you're planning to get re-elected? ) and rarely do they really give a crap about the issue. All of them want the same things - your money, your v**es, your admiration ( preferably hero worship ), your applause, and most of all................your attention. The current crop of such folks are prefect examples of this behavior, including Trump. Some of you are thinking " but Trump really cares!", but ask yourself this - why didn't he care before he decided to run for office? He'll tell you he did, but the record says otherwise.

Why do we keep letting politicians tune us up, often over the same things, year after year after year? If any of them really intended to do something about the problem, they would do it, but they just keep talking about it, blaming each other for their failure to do so. When Democrats had control of all three branches of government, none of the problems that got them elected were solved. When Republicans had control of all three branches of Government, they didn't solve those problems either. Here's your clue; Democrats blamed Republicans for their failure, and Republicans are blaming Democrats for their own failures. If the minority party is so powerful as to be able to prevent the majority party from doing anything..................why the hell do they keep trying so desperately to gain the majority?

Smedley_buzkill

Why do people blame politicians? Do they think those douche bags elected and reelected themselves?

Hug

GREAT POINT!

Cuda2020

Remember, we're a "Republic" which means we are represented. Yes we v**ed them in, the problem is the money in the system that corrupts them, it is what is systemic and poisons the outcomes of what needs to be done, look at health care for example.

Last night for the first time I watch a 1939 movie, Mr. Smith goes to Washington and damn if it doesn't reaffirm what still happens today, if you've never watched it, your missing a good and pertinent movie.

Peewee Loc: San Antonio, TX

That's what people like Epstein are for. If you can't win a fair fight use blackmail.

bylm1-Bernie

That's like blaming guns for k*****g people or blaming food for making one fat. Politicians are the only item in the chain capable of thinking and conniving. I would be for eliminating the incentive as much as possible but I believe the biggest deterrent for untoward activity is the threat of not being elected again. Term limits would be a start, along with curtailing lobbying and/or legislating penalties for excessive inducement to Congressmen. It is nearly impossible to get a majority of the House and Senate to v**e against benefits to themselves.

Cuda2020

I agree, I find just about all of us agree on that, unfortunately, the representatives will not v**e against their own self-interests and benefits, there are few like Mr. Smith(~goes to Washington).

bylm1-Bernie

Then we have no choice other than to v**e them out. There are some ethical and moral Congressman there and we can always hope they will help straighten things out. Write them.

Cuda2020

Can I call instead?

bylm1-Bernie

You bet! Even better.

tophat

That IS the problem.

Cuda2020

Rose42

Anyone who hasn’t seen Mr Smith Goes to Washington should. Should be watched by all our reps too.

Army

Well myself I think Trump is doing more than any President in my life time ever done gives hope ( fresh air ) to this country an others . The evil is so great now we are seeing being exposed every front .
You know them by there fruits our prayers are needed desperately for the survival of this country more than ever .

F.D.R.

It seems that nobody noticed: The civil war did not happen in the 20th century.