News Stop Hysteria over Terrorism: Get Facts, Vote Wisely

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The discussion centers on the disproportionate fear surrounding terrorism compared to other risks, such as car accidents. It argues that the media and political leaders contribute to a culture of hysteria that influences public perception and decision-making, leading individuals to vote based on fear rather than rationality. The conversation draws parallels between the fear tactics used in terrorism discourse and those employed by environmentalists, suggesting that both sides exaggerate consequences to provoke reactions. The potential economic damage from terrorism, particularly through psychological impacts like fear of radiation from dirty bombs, is highlighted as a significant concern, emphasizing that much of the damage stems from unfounded fears. Ultimately, the dialogue critiques the pervasive culture of fear in American politics, suggesting it drives consumption and societal behavior.
Dissident Dan
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Stop buying duct tape and water bottles. You have more chance of dying in a car accident than dying in a terrorist act. Terrorism is a serious problem, yes, but it does not warrant the current hysteria. Some people who have little to no serious threat to fear are seriously scared for their lives due to the scaremongering of the admin and the media and will vote solely based on that fear (a fear which interferes with their rational processes for deciding who and what actions will do the best job to prevent terrorism).

It's been going on for a long time, and will continue as such. People in many countries get it much worse than we do.
 
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Are these scare tactics along the same lines as those offered by environmentalists? You know... SUVs are dooming the planet, and we must do something about it now or risk global catastrophe. That sort of stuff.

Both sides play up the consequences. We have been told repeatedly that the world is now coming to an end because the Arab/Muslim population doesn't like us any more (as if they ever did).
 
There might not be a rational reason to be scared of terrorism, but the after effects of an attack like 911 could be scary. I think the biggest scare tactic today tho is an after effect which hasnt happened, but ppl are suggesting is going to happen if Bush does another 4yrs.
 
on the subject of scare tactics... i was reading an article in a magazine that was saying 'they don't need to kill a lot of people to cause damage'. the article was about dirty bombs and how everyone is paranoid about bad radiation that if a terroist group blew a few off in urban cores, the damage to the actual buildings would be small, the casualtys would be realitivly small but the economic damage would be Huge, suddenly no one would want to go to work because they don't want to get radiated, people start using rad resistant suits and using gas masks and the next thing you know, the land value dropes, people lose jobs because they don't want to go to the shops close to the blast. most of the damage would be because people had unfounded fears
 
... or, if icebergs melt, Bangladesh will be flooded and millions will lose their lives.

As I said, both sides use scare tactics. They are an American way of life in politics.
 
What I don't get is how enviromentalists are the 'other side' of anti-terrorists.

I don't even know why there is another side, the bottom line is, in the worlds of Marlyn Manson, "it's just this campaign of fear, and consumption, and that's what I think it's all based on, the whole idea of 'keep everyone afraid, and they'll consume"

As a side note: Fear of terrorism seems to have a much larger effect then the melting of the ice caps.
 
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