Is the politics of fear spreading?

[Moonliner]

We all know that the Bush administration has used the politics of fear to push their unconstitutional (http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/24/lawyers.bush.ap/index.html)agenda on America and now it looks like others are starting to use the same playbook.

Take the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Back at the start of the 2005 season (May 16th) they predicted (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Atlantic_hurricane_season)a 2005 season that would be just slightly above average. 7-9 Hurricanes when 6 is average and 3-5 majors when 2 are average. There were actually 15 hurricanes and 7 majors last year.

So we now move on to 2006. Guess what? This year the May predictions (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Atlantic_hurricane_season)were for an extremely busy year 8-10 Hurricanes with 5 majors (remember 2 is average). Ohhh hold on to your hats everyone it's going to be a scary year.

Now here we are in late August and guess what? Nadda. The weather service has been denigrated to reporting on depressions (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/08/22/tropical.weather.ap/index.html)just forming off the coast of Africa that could in a week or two become a real storm due to the lack of any real activity to report on.

So what does NOAA do? Revise their forecast and say, "Hey it looks like this year is not going to be soooo bad after all?" Might they perhaps admit that at least a few people who live along the coast of the US might actually survive the year? Nope. That would reflect reality which of course does not support the politics of fear that keeps them budget dollars rolling in. So rather than a statement of facts based on valid scientific observations we get sensationalist headlines like: "Hurricane chief foresees 'mega-disaster' (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/08/22/hurricanes.reut/index.html)" That's right. Screw scientific observations and theory, and go right to the fear card. Woo hoo that'll get the American public jumping and and down just begging congress to toss you more cash. Well done Mr. Mayfield. Your budget is safe for another season. I can't wait to read your 2007 season forecast, I'm sure it will rank as one the of best fictional disasters stories ever!

[Gemini Cricket]

Fear sells.

[Capt Jack]

I'm sure it will rank as one the of best fictional disasters stories ever!

yup, ranks right up there with Y2K. a ton of folks made a killing from the fear mongering built around that...embarassingly, Im one of them.


when a doom prediction fails to be more than a fart in a windstorm, make a bigger windstorm.

[Moonliner]

yup, ranks right up there with Y2K. a ton of folks made a killing from the fear mongering built around that...embarassingly, Im one of them.


when a doom prediction fails to be more than a fart in a windstorm, make a bigger windstorm.

..I think that's a different case. You say you "made a killing" out of Y2k. Let me ask you this. What would have happened if the work you competed had never been done? Would the clients systems have crashed or otherwise screwed up come the year 2000? Probably so. The main effect of the y2K bug was eliminated because the hew and cry forced pointy headed bosses everywhere to sit up take notice and free up the resources to fix the problem. If the entire issue had just been ignored then the disaster would indeed have happened. So while the general alarm did in fact overstate the issue, nuclear sites going critial and the like, it did help to solve what was a real issue.

[Capt Jack]

point taken. yes, it would have truly sucked if no one anywhere had done anything at all.
however, I do think a lot more over hyped panic than reality based fear existed for it none the less.

[alphabassettgrrl]

The politics of fear is one of the main reasons I refuse to watch the evening news any more. Short on news, long on fear. Bah.

[Gemini Cricket]

The politics of fear is one of the main reasons I refuse to watch the evening news any more. Short on news, long on fear. Bah.
Totally agree. In fact, that goes for all of TV news except PBS for me.

CNN is doing this really messed up news segment called 'Target: America'. It's so blatantly fear mongering that it's sad. That and Amanpour's 'Tracking Bin Laden' pieces are agonizing. The ads for these shows are everywhere.

And then after those ads come the drug ads which scare you some more...
;)

[Capt Jack]

Im with ya. from now on its cartoon channel or nada. :D

[Gemini Cricket]

It's funny that you said that because for me it's all about the animated shows on TV and TCM, Fox Movie Channel or AMC.
:)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I stick to the Daily Show. Seems as valid a news source as any and rather than try to instill fear, they just try to make me laugh. I appreciate that.

[Capt Jack]

It's funny that you said that because for me it's all about the animated shows on TV and TCM, Fox Movie Channel or AMC.
:)

kewl.

Futurama is on Cartoon Network in the evenings now, along with Family Guy and a plethora of other....less child like animation shows. check your local listings for details.

:P

[Tramspotter]

Politics of fear eh?

The Daily Show and an ever more bitter and enboldend John Stuart (who it seemed to me used to be honestly disturbed that his show was taken as anything more than satire) as a news sorce eh?

Why not just get your news from SNL? (http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=politicalhumor&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crooksandliars.com%2F2006%2F05 %2F14.html%23a8280)

[Motorboat Cruiser]

If SNL was in the least bit funny anymore, I might watch it. :)

[Not Afraid]

I'm sure The Daily Show is not any more biasedd that mostnew sources - and it's more entertaining.

[Tramspotter]

I'm sure The Daily Show is not any more biasedd that mostnew sources - and it's more entertaining.


ORLY (http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/2745/)

[scaeagles]

If SNL was in the least bit funny anymore, I might watch it. :)

Truly SNL sucks now.

[scaeagles]

Again, the whole fear thing....

All weekend long, whenever I had any sort of news program on (whether Meet the Press or whatever), the topic of conversation was frequently Ernesto.

Ernesto wasn't even that big yesterday, but this morning it only has max sustained winds of 45mph, and with the current track taking it directly over Cuba, it will most likely weaken more, and then have 90 or so miles from Cuba to southern FL, during which much strengthening isn't likely.

[Moonliner]

It would seem that the press suffers from a kind of inertia. Last year a hurricane was the big story so they must be important this year as well. :rolleyes:

[innerSpaceman]

It's the season to highlight what went wrong with the President's promise to take care of Katrina damage, whatever it takes. Looking at those shortfalls at the one-year anniversary takes on a certain narrative consistency if there's a hurricane a'comin.'

The season won't last long. We're about to enter 5-year anniversary nine eleven season, and all the hand-wringing about what hasn't been done in five years to protect the American People from terrorist attack.



Fearmongering or not ... I think the convergence of the two stories paints a pretty grim picture of how our government attends to the big dangers that have beset Americans in the last half-decade.

[Not Afraid]

Ernesto wasn't even that big yesterday, but this morning it only has max sustained winds of 45mph, and with the current track taking it directly over Cuba, it will most likely weaken more, and then have 90 or so miles from Cuba to southern FL, during which much strengthening isn't likely.

Ernesto has time - and enough open sea - to return to hurricane strength before hitting the Keys and Southern Florida. Or at least that is what was reported 20 minutes ago.

In this case, I dont think it is fear but reality. We all know the damage a bad hurricane at the "right" spot can do and we also know just how useless our government is in helping mop up. One can't help think "what if". But, Hurricane season is just getting started - we're only on the letter "E".

[Moonliner]

Ernesto has time - and enough open sea - to return to hurricane strength before hitting the Keys and Southern Florida. Or at least that is what was reported 20 minutes ago.

In this case, I dont think it is fear but reality. We all know the damage a bad hurricane at the "right" spot can do and we also know just how useless our government is in helping mop up. One can't help think "what if". But, Hurricane season is just getting started - we're only on the letter "E".

Technically we are almost half way through hurricane season ( 48% as of today) and only up to 'E'. Last year, as we all know, we were up to 'K' as of this date.


Ernesto does not appear to be a "bad" hurricane and may not be a hurricane at all by the time it makes land in the US.

I did however note the excitement in all the news reports last week when the storm track pointed out into the gulf and possibly at New Orleans followed by the subdued coverage when it was determined to only be going for Florida.

[Alex]

But the current track has it (at whatever level of strength) going over DISNEY WORLD!!!!!

Quick! Panic! Cancel your vacation plans!!!

[Moonliner]

But the current track has it (at whatever level of strength) going over DISNEY WORLD!!!!!

Quick! Panic! Cancel your vacation plans!!!

Would it be bad to once again hope that it knocks down that stupid arm over spaceship earth?

[Not Afraid]

Would it be bad to once again hope that it knocks down that stupid arm over spaceship earth?

God, I hope so!

[Alex]

I like the arm. And so would you if it had been there from the beginning (I say with impossible certainty).

And I see that the new track has it riding up the east coast of Florida. At the current rate of change in the track the hurricane will never be farther west than Portugal so WDW is probably safe.

[Moonliner]

I like the arm. And so would you if it had been there from the beginning (I say with impossible certainty).


And if I'd been fed Poi from an early age I'd like that also. What's your point?


And yes, it looks like the cursed arm is safe for at least one more letter.

[Alex]

My point is that the Electrical Parade is a horrible parade.

[innerSpaceman]

them's banning words, pal.

[Gemini Cricket]

Speaking of fear spreading, CNN is going to rebroadcast it's coverage of the 9/11 bombings. Isn't that great? (He posts with sarcasm...) Oy, I'm ready to give up my cable subscription...

[Moonliner]

Speaking of fear spreading, CNN is going to rebroadcast it's coverage of the 9/11 bombings. Isn't that great? (He posts with sarcasm...) Oy, I'm ready to give up my cable subscription...

Are they planning to replay the coverage of our Commander-in-Chief scurrying around the country like a scared bunny rabbit?

[Alex]

Speaking of fear spreading, CNN is going to rebroadcast it's coverage of the 9/11 bombings. Isn't that great? (He posts with sarcasm...) Oy, I'm ready to give up my cable subscription...

They aren't rebroadcasting it on cable. It will be available as a stream from what is usually the subscription section of the Web site, which will be freely available on 9/11.

[innerSpaceman]

Are they planning to replay the coverage of our Commander-in-Chief scurrying around the country like a scared bunny rabbit?
When I make a home edit of "United 93", I'm going to plug in a split screen of Bush sitting in kindergarten with deer-in-headlights face during the part where the military finds out only the president can order the downing of civilian aircraft and immediate action is necessary to prevent Flight 93 from hitting its target in Washington, D.C.



2008 is so close, I can taste it. In retrospect, the Bush, Jr. presidency is going to prove very funny. Tragic, but funny.

[Moonliner]

When I make a home edit of "United 93", I'm going to

Let me know when it's up on youtube. ;)

[scaeagles]

Ernesto has time - and enough open sea - to return to hurricane strength before hitting the Keys and Southern Florida. Or at least that is what was reported 20 minutes ago.

In this case, I dont think it is fear but reality.

Thankfully for the people in Florida it was simply a rather weak tropical storm as it hit. The mountains in Cuba pretty much killed any chance it had of gaining stregth, as they significantly broke it up.

I think all of the panic and discussion by local and government officials is simply a CYA. With Katrina mismanagement well in memory (both on a local and national level), that's going to continue for a long time. In fact, scare tactics in general - if you want to call them that - are simply a CYA. They can all say, should things turn bad, that they warned the populace and did all they could in preparation.

This is the case with terrorism too. I don't think Bush and his admin are trying to scare the populace, I think they are pulling a CYA. Knowing that just one even insignificant attack that is successful will call into question every single policy and every moment of preparation or lack thereof and every avenue of intelligence gathering, they want to remind the population frequently that they are doing all they can in the face of a determined enemy so that they can be on record when (sadly, I wish I could say if, but I can't) it happens.

And with every disaster situation, no matter what is done, there seems to be a need for a fall guy. Sometimes bad things happen and no one is to blame. It just....is.

[innerSpaceman]

I don't remember too many fall guys needed with FEMA under Clinton.


Sometimes does indeed mean sometimes. As in - sometimes not.

[Gemini Cricket]

Sometimes bad things happen, sometimes it just is. But Katrina was a big fvck up by this administration. It still is. People are living in trailers now since Katrina, trailers that could not withstand another harsh hurricane. They haven't learned a thing. If this happens again, we're not prepared.

[scaeagles]

I agree with the Katrina thing. Not trying to deny it at all, however I often think the responsibility of the local authorities is overlooked. Regardless....

I was speaking of a CYA in the face of impending disaster. Making sure everyone knows the worst possible scenario so in the event of anything the people in charge can say warnings were issued. Saying a horrible terrorist attack could happen at any moment so that when one does no one can say it was unexpected. This is all I am saying.

I just find it ridiculous that people need to be told how severe a hurricane can be so that if they are hurt in anyway it isn't the fault of the government.

Personal responsibility seems lost in all of it.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I just find it ridiculous that people need to be told how severe a hurricane can be so that if they are hurt in anyway it isn't the fault of the government.


Seems to me that knowing how strong an impending hurricane may be would be pretty useful information if you happened to be in its path.

[scaeagles]

Of course. Declaring states of emergency with mandatory evacuations for a storm that is weak on an unknown track is excessive, though.

[Moonliner]

The weather service has been denigrated to reporting on depressions (http://www.cnn.com/2006/WEATHER/08/22/tropical.weather.ap/index.html)just forming off the coast of Africa that could in a week or two become a real storm due to the lack of any real activity to report on.

Yeah that's about average for my life. I disrespect one little tropical depression and the next thing you know it's tracking (http://hurricane.accuweather.com/hurricane/storms-large.asp?partner=accuweather&ocean=atlantic&storm=ERNESTO&imagetype=move) right at my house and just in time to spoil some of my weekend plans.

Seesch. Get a sense of humor Gaia. :rolleyes:

[Alex]

The weather service has always tracked those depressions and CNN has always reported on them. I remember them doing so when I was a kid.

Now people just pay more attention to them and want to hear more about them.

[Moonliner]

The weather service has always tracked those depressions and CNN has always reported on them. I remember them doing so when I was a kid.

Now people just pay more attention to them and want to hear more about them.

When it comes to tracking I'll grant you the weather service. That's what they do. However in regards to predicting I still argue that politics based on last years storm (fear) colored their predictions for this year.

In researching the original post, I did try and look up some old records on CNN. In years past tropical depressions just off the coast of Africa received little if any coverage and were certainly not listed on the main page off cnn.com until they were much more developed and heading in the right (or is that wrong?) general direction.

[katiesue]

Who Jessica Simpson might be dating shouldn't be on cnn.com's front page either but there you go.

[Not Afraid]

I remember them doing so when I was a kid.





And here's when the age thing slaps me in the face. There was no CNN when I was a kid.

[Motorboat Cruiser]

And here's when the age thing slaps me in the face. There was no CNN when I was a kid.

It's a wonder you all survived such hardships. ;)

[katiesue]

News was only on for an hour when I was a kid. And they only broadcast live coverage if it actually was important.

[Alex]

And here's when the age thing slaps me in the face. There was no CNN when I was a kid.

Today I had reason to be standing in line behind a bunch of teenagers on lunch from school.

They were making fun of the way someone talked and one said "he talks like the guy in that old movie. You know, it had Austin Powers in it but he had straight black hair."

Yes, that "old movie" Wayne's World. Nobody in the crowd could think of the title and I wasn't going to pipe up and cement my decrepitude.