Fear and Power Grabs

"What we need right now is a clear message to the people of this country. This message must be read in every newspaper, heard on every radio, seen on every television. I want everyone to remember why they need us!"
--Sutler (V for Vendetta)

It is one of the first lessons in the political playbook. Make people fearful and they will be willing to sacrifice liberty in the name of security. Under conditions of threat, people are prone to think less critically and centralize decision-making authority (Staw, Sandelands, & Dutton, 1981)--part of what Kahneman (2011) refers to as 'fast thinking'.

Because emotions dominate thought process in threatening situations, and those emotions drive us to cede power to government in hopes of quelling those threats, politicians lick their chops when 'crisis situations' arise. Knowing this, government officials might even be willing to create or prolong threatening situations in order to assimilate more power.

Rookie House member Mark Green, a doctor from Tennessee, learned a hard lesson in this regard last night as the House rushed a 110 page, multibillion dollar bill to quick vote after midnight. No analysis, no discussion.

My thoughts as I walked off the House Floor at 1AM: pic.twitter.com/H2rYT1TiwI

— Rep. Mark Green (@RepMarkGreen) March 14, 2020

Why the rush? We have a 'national emergency' related to COVID 19, you see, as declared yesterday afternoon by the president. Careful thought and consideration? We can't afford that. Those in charge have to do something right quick.

Politicians indeed acted quickly, seizing the opportunity to fill the bill with special interest agenda items, knowing full well that their largesse would not be questioned in the name of expedience.

As in crises past--Civil War, WWI, Great Depression, WWII, 9/11, Credit Collapse to name a few--we have once again surrendered freedom for the illusion of safety.