Fearmongering from the Left

For many years the drumbeat of popular leftist rhetoric has involved labeling (their) opponents as “fearmongers.” This term is used to demonize efforts by politicians and media personalities on the right by portraying them as irrational and their ideas or policies as unrealistic and unnecessary. Even though there may be a grain of truth when using this exceedingly rhetorical term, the people on the political left who use it must either be completely unaware of their own brand of fearmongering or they freely admit to their own double standards and hypocrisy.

The accusations against Republicans in recent years have mostly been focused on our attempts to eradicate Muslim extremists and the removal of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. But Republicans also find themselves under attack with domestic matters, including issues like homosexual marriage and gun control. The leftists are quick to accuse the right of stirring up panic in order to garner support for what they perceive to be impractical, unconstitutional, or altogether ridiculous causes.

Ultimately, it’s a blatant hypocrisy and a lack of understanding that drives the left into its own fearmongering frenzy.

Their favorite tactic is to call the right “fascists” even when it is fascism that we are trying to confront as a nation. If the intelligence community points out that terrorist attacks are on the rise around the world and a Republican happens to mention it during a television or radio show, they are usually blamed for promoting alarm and hatred toward Muslims. Whether the comments are accurate or not is inconsequential because the goal is to make everyone afraid of that evil Republican’s agenda.

Leadership on the right is called imperialistic when we liberate oppressed people and ask for very little in return. They are called fascists when it is fascism that they are fighting and they are called tyrants when it is tyranny that is being defeated. The sad truth is that the people on the left who accuse the right of these things are the very same ones who promote totalitarian ideologies. Not only does the right have to defeat despotism abroad and suffer the indictments from their opponents, but they also have to fight off the lunge toward despotism at home from those same opponents.

And what does the left say about it? They call the right “war profiteers” and claim that the right wants to endlessly build up the military and create a police state. Despite the fact that of the last 28 years we’ve had a Republican Commander-in-Chief for 20 of them, there has been no emergence of military rule. The fear of “right-wing fascism” was, and is, completely unwarranted.

On the other hand, we now have a military under the command of a Fabian socialist.

War and the military is hardly the only subject that draws attention from the leftist fearmongers. Religion also plays a vital role and leaves them in a constant state of agitation. Fear and restlessness over the approaching theocracy has fueled many attacks by leftist commentators who have no problem expressing their distaste for disagreement on social topics. With abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and drug abuse always finding its way into political discourse, it’s very easy for demagogues to sound the alarm over the imposition of right-wing morality.

Yet somehow the country slides consistently toward an ever-increasing decadence. But that won’t stop the leftist fearmongers from clamoring about theocratic rule.

Another popular target for the left is gun ownership. They love to predict that relaxing gun control laws will lead to the return of the “Wild West,” where they believe duels, rampant vigilantism, and skyrocketing violent crimes will drag down our modern society. Somehow, these leftists remain unaware of the statistics that prove the exact opposite – or they willingly ignore them and choose to frighten the public instead. It’s much easier to blame a gun for the problems in our society instead of many of the illicit behaviors for which the left are enablers.

One of the most prominent objects for scare tactics in recent decades is our planet. The latest fad involves frightening the population about an impending doom called “global warming.” It’s just another leftist agenda found within the broader scope of “killing the planet.” The current global warming fearmongering follows earlier warnings about overpopulation, global cooling, the dying oceans, and the depleting ozone layer. All of these are constantly described as imminent catastrophes that need our immediate attention – and usually all of our money.

Despite the panic and warnings, none of these dire predictions have come true. Sooner rather than later, the global warming alarmism will fade away with the rest of the failed agendas, leaving room for a brand new crisis that needs urgent consideration and action – like our economy.

The economy has become the latest victim of leftist fearmongering. For much of the last year, we have heard Democrats using the economy as a tool for opposition to capitalism and Republican policies. Much of the language used has been nothing short of hyperbole. For many months we have had politicians and the media calling our economic situation “the worst crisis since the Great Depression” – and that was long before the job losses began piling up. The man most responsible for easing the fears and anxiety of the public has been doing the most harm.

Barack Obama has been traveling around the country telling the American People that if the government does nothing, then we will be headed for an economic “catastrophe.” Never mind the fact that we have already spent nearly two trillion dollars, the fearmongering from Obama and his cohorts in Congress and the media has reached unprecedented highs. He has even claimed that only government can provide the solution – and he is cheered for it. The public has such little confidence in the market and is whipped up into such a frenzy because they are subjected to daily fearmongering from the highest political offices in the country.

However, many economists – and even the Congressional Budget Office – believe that if Congress had done nothing, we may have been better off in the long run. But don’t tell that to the promoters of panic.

It’s true that all political persuasions use fear to try to sway public opinion or increase awareness, but there’s a difference between using it to promote legitimate concerns and using it to enact legislation that otherwise would have no chance with a calm and informed populace.

The leftists in this country have been using fear to advance failed theories and to demagogue policies and practices with which they simply disagree. It’s not only dangerous to do this in an environment of already heightened panic and confusion, but it’s irresponsible to do it to a public that looks to the government for information and guidance – despite how wrong that, in itself, may be.

So the next time you hear someone on the left hollering about right-wing fear tactics, stop and think about what they’re saying. Then try to understand the agenda they’re promoting by making you fearful of their opposition’s alleged fearmongering. It’s all part of the same game, but the left apparently refuses to believe they’re one of the contenders.

Copyright © 2009 by RationalLiberty.com

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