The current atmosphere is being shaped by a prevailing sense of fear. The strategy at play involves instilling an acute sense of panic within the populace. A fearful citizenry is one that is easily controlled.
Today, fear is largely focused on the delta variant of the coronavirus, which continues to spread through communities. Additionally, recent reports indicate that the lambda variant is also circulating.
However, there exists a far more insidious threat to society than any mutated virus: the virus of fear itself. This fear is propagated by central planners who continually bombard the public with alarming messages.
For instance, following a meeting of the G20 finance ministers, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen expressed her concern that “coronavirus variants could derail the global economic recovery and called for an urgent push to deploy vaccines more rapidly around the world.”
Dr. Anthony Fauci, known for his cautionary messages, recommended that if individuals wish to be extra cautious, even while vaccinated, they should consider wearing masks indoors in crowded areas.
The opportunities to disseminate fear are vast: new coronavirus variants, cyberattacks, climate change, terrorism, threats from Russia and China, and even UFOs.
Name a concern—the potential for fear is boundless.
The Cycle of Perpetual Fear
The political elite find particular value in fears linked to potential economic crises. While these fears are often based on real threats, they are magnified to a significant extent. This overblown perception provides central planners a golden opportunity to engage in extensive spending, promising to shield the populace from impending doom. When fear is orchestrated effectively, citizens demand intervention, pleading for government assistance.
In fact, continuous fear is a prerequisite for ongoing government intervention. Such fear paves the way for expansive spending programs, massive deficits, and overreaching governmental solutions.
In contrast, without heightened anxiety, these spending initiatives become politically infeasible. Absent fear, economic stimulus bills crumble. Without fear, financial aid checks disappear and struggling companies are left to fail.
Fear serves as a crucial lubricant for government operations, facilitating inflationary practices that sustain governmental promises and obligations.
The consequences of inflation enable the very existence of a national debt of $28.5 trillion, budget deficits reaching $3 trillion, and unfunded liabilities exceeding $153.5 trillion. Furthermore, it drives the continual expansion of government and its various agencies.
Unquestionably, centralized control has been steadily consolidating in Washington for over a century. Many voters actively endorse this trend, often rushing to endorse expansive government initiatives.
Despite this, many of these same voters maintain a self-image as champions of American freedom and liberty. While some may vocally reject communism or socialism—like President Biden, who recently labeled communism a “universally failed system”—their political demands suggest otherwise.
Life and Death in the Age of Fear
The central planners and their followers are enthusiastic backers of unsustainable transfer payment programs, conveniently overlooking the inherent flaws within Social Security and Medicare. Their reliance on larger programs and government contracts remains unwavering, provided they receive their share.
While the American populace may not outright embrace socialism, a steady influx of fear can rally support for government actions—any actions—that promise salvation.
Currently, the anticipated post-pandemic economic resurgence appears to be failing to materialize. The yield on the 10-Year Treasury is nearing 1.28 percent, while consumer prices are officially reported to be increasing by 5.4 percent; honest assessments suggest they’re rising at double that rate.
The crux of the issue is that governments, particularly at the federal level, have created a dependency among large segments of the population, ensuring electoral support—as long as they deliver benefits. Maintaining this flow of free money through lavish spending requires a continuous stream of fear, which brings us to the Senate’s current discussions.
The proposed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill and the $3.5 trillion budget resolution addressing various social issues are at the forefront. While bipartisan agreement may be achievable for the infrastructure plan, the budget resolution requires additional urgency fueled by manufactured fears.
Threats from the delta variant, climate disasters, and other emergencies may serve to amplify this fear.
If these legislative proposals do not advance before the Senate breaks for its August recess, the machinery of fear will undoubtedly ramp up, framing issues as matters of life and death.
Ultimately, further lockdowns may be deemed necessary to facilitate the agenda.
Sincerely,
MN Gordon
for Economic Prism
Return from Life and Death in the Age of Fear to Economic Prism
