Politics of Fear

What motivates people? Greed, fear, gluttony and lust. (Yes, some people are motivated by love of humanity or desire for knowledge but in this fallen world such people are too few to mention).



Politics is, famously, the art of the possible. And what is possible is possible only because people are motivated to do what the politician seeks. But that takes us back to motivation and the four pack of greed, fear, gluttony and lust.



Lust isn't very helpful in politics -- perhaps being attractive helps a little but not a whole lot. Gluttony also has drawbacks -- a summer bbq won't motivate people to do much.



Greed is better -- trouble is that radical wealth redistribution proves impractical in the long run. If you steal from the rich to give to the poor over time everyone becomes poor. Since most people have figured this last point out bribing voters with tax based freebies has lost traction.



So we are left with fear. And fear is an endlessly renewable resource. No matter how much fear is spread more is always possible.



Accordingly, we have motivation by fear. If we cut carbon use we'll have no jobs. If we get rid of censorship hate crime will rise. If we allow free trade in communications Canada will vanish.



Perhaps this is the best we can expect.