Why are Cons primarily guided by Fear?

Answer 1

It's not fear, exactly--it is better described as a form of social/culural paranoia. The distinction is subtle, granted--but it is important.

The "cons" are (mostly) the members of a distinct subculture in the US that originated in the South/Southwestern US in the late 19th/early 20th century--the "poor whites" of those regions--many of whome later became the white migrants such as the "Okies" to the West Coast and elsewhere. If you look back over that period and the events that shaped their lives, a distinctive and consistant pattern emerges.

They were not well-educated--but did have a strong sense of religious devotion and community (indeed, the two were inseperable). To describe all of this is way beyond Y/A format--but here's oe capsule of how this played out (but it does show the overally pattern throughout this culture, all through the US):

The migrants to the West, especially in the depression/war years, had little to sustain them except each other and their beliefs. They also carried a view of themselves as surrounded by potential hostile elements--a residue o fbeing indoctrinated by elite whites in the south to fear blacks. In the West Coast communities they formed, thisbecame a set of unifying ideas: community, church, a focus o n keeping whatever they had, and a strong sense that they had to stick together---and mistrust of outsiders and a belief that those outsiders were hostile.

That baasic way of thinking is still there today. And it has made this group particularly vulnerable to demagogues--whether televangelists or fear-mongers like Bush and Cheney--who capitalize on this world view to tap into a residue of latent paranoia about outsiders and use it to instill fear--fear of liberals, of immigrants, of Muslims, of terrorists, etc., etc., etc. Then--in a not -too-subtle play on the deep religious beliefs, present themselves as potential protectors/saviours.

And--if one has a following like that--who believe themsleves to be surrounded by enemies and under attack--ad you can convince them you can lead them to safety--they will follow like lemmings. With, by the way, similar results. So--the fear is not merely "fear"--it is a carefully manufactured and culturally based paranoia, set in motion by and for demagogues for the specific purpose of manipulating that fear to gain power.

Answer 2

Because the current administration uses fear and wedge issues to keep "we the people" from coming together, figuring out exactly what they have been up to, and running the whole cabal out of Washington on a rail, tared and feathered.

Their plan is simple, divide and conquer, and keep as many as possible in absolute terror of one made up boogie man after another.

Answer 3

they want us Americans to be guided by fear that way they can get their patriot act passed etc.a scared America is easy to manipulate.lol remember the little indicators the news channels would show that had the different levels of threat possibilities?what ever happened to those anyway?

Answer 4

because the fear makes sense. fear of confiscatory taxation and failed welfare schemes like hillary care two that will bankrupt a bleagured social structure in the us. fear of liberal extremism that in the past has already produced travlegate filegate whitewater the vince foster coverup and a host of other crimes. fear that unilateral surrender as bob gates says emboldens the enemy and does nothing to support our troops. these are real fears and are well grounded.

Answer 5

But isn't a DNC platform is to use fear...i:e; The rich will take from you, you are down trodden and only government can help, Global Warming; so on and so on..... by keeping a base on entitlements it transcends to a voting block.

Answer 6

Because they're hopeless. Hope is the opposite of fear.

Answer 7

Because....
Sister Rosa will get you if you do that!
That guy is going to sue you if you do that!
The tax man is going to get you if you do that!
The terrorists will get you if you don't vote for...!
The Devil is going to get you if you do that!

From womb to the tomb, they are guided by fear!

Answer 8

No..profit, fear just sells well, in today's market. If afraid enough people will buy anything, any story...as long as it offers comfort.

Answer 9

Your question is unfair as any answerer must first admit that Cons are primarily guided by fear. First prove that, then ask your question.

Answer 10

Conservatives are security-seeking people -- not that they ever really find security. I like to call them the pseudo-secure.