Fear and Political Action

[nancylebov]

I recently heard some talk based on the idea that the reaction to the Bush administration most worth encouraging is fear.

I have two problems with this. One is merely factual--the administration is much weaker than it was. It's made disasterous mistakes, and the natural incompatities among its supporters are getting interesting. This doesn't mean it's become harmless and there are certainly still excellent reasons to oppose it, but imho, it's not nearly as scary as it was a year or two ago.

The other is psychological. Amp up the fear too high, and some people get paralyzed.

I'm asking those of you who've been following politics more carefully than I have: what mix of emotional appeals have contributed to changes you've wanted?

Comments

[dsgood.livejournal.com]

None, in one sense.

Protests against the Vietnam War let people know that there were alternative views. And helped keep protestors from feeling alone. Spectators not already against the war? The polite ones said things like "The President knows what he's doing." No change, for the most part.

When it was no longer possible for most people to say with a straight face "The President knows what he's doing," views changed.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

What appeals seemed to be effective in getting the protestors to show up?

Given my memories of the two visits I made to our nation's capital

[mouseworks.livejournal.com]

Some sense that joy and the best music was on our side. Some sense that the organizers knew how to protect the people in the march from agent provocateurs and honest but stupid hot heads.

As the other person said, seeing visibly the range of people on one's own side. When the protests turned more confrontational, a lot of the more middle class stopped coming.

Having good publicity for the buses helps.

Re: Given my memories of the two visits I made to our nation's capital

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

I agree about the music. Afaik, no political movement in the US is making notable music these days.

[madfilkentist]

Fear is particularly dangerous as an agent of change. It makes people accept alternatives that they wouldn't accept in a rational state, often ones which are worse than the status quo. In particular, it encourages people to cede even more power over their lives. The Bush administration has shown a knack for using fear for this purpose. There are demagogues regularly seen in Harvard Square -- LaRouchies and old-style communists -- who try to use fear of Bush to gain power for themselves.

Moral indignation is more likely to achieve positive results. It requires more work to achieve, but it's less apt to turn into a demagogic force of its own.

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

How do you distinguish between moral indignation and anger?

[madfilkentist]

Anger doesn't have to offer a justification. Moral indignation does.

I can be angry at the weather; I'd have a hard time being morally outraged at it.

[whc.livejournal.com]

Fear is the Bush administration's tactic. Falling to their level won't help.

[zenlizard]

This is really a question of tactics: It's not so much as "what mix", as "what mix is/would be most effective *at this time*?"

[nancylebov.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. Do you have any opinions about the best current mix?

[zenlizard]

Thinking about it, even my re-phrasing isn't good enough. An even better question would be "What is the best mix for *these* particular people* at *this particular time*?"