From my POV, it is the current administration and its minions and some of the press. There are many members of the press who are not following that particular carrot, but they are being drowned out by the others who are crying "Wolf!"
Everybody, on all sides of the aisle. Third parties aren't much better; they just want you to be equally afraid of the Big Two.
Republicans are whipping up fear of gay marriage, Iraq, and terrorism. Democrats are whipping up fear of global warming, Peak Oil, conservative Christians, and Republicans. Libertarians are whipping up fear of Democrats and Republicans, claiming that each of them wants to erode your freedoms and abuse the power of the state only in different ways.
I'm afraid I don't pay much of any attention to anybody else, really.
Granted, some or all of those fears may have some sort of sound footing in reality. Doesn't mean they're not being exploited. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.
To expand on what bikergeek said, I think that practically everybody is presently in the fear-mongering business.
Fear is one of the best and long-established methods of controlling [weak-minded] people. Just look at medieval Europe. Everybody was afraid of everything all of the time. Despite all our airs, Western Culture today has NOT come very far since then. Parents frighten their children to make them more manageable (just think of the sub-texts inherent in stories like the Grimm Brothers). [Many] religious leaders frighten their OWN people into submission (and open them to abuse by the church itself). Doctors frighten their patients and the people who fund them. Politicos frighten everybody, as does the government and media.
The more frightened people are, the less they are likely to be able to think for themselves, the easier it is to abuse them for your own profit.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-04-03 01:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-03 01:07 am (UTC)Republicans are whipping up fear of gay marriage, Iraq, and terrorism.
Democrats are whipping up fear of global warming, Peak Oil, conservative Christians, and Republicans.
Libertarians are whipping up fear of Democrats and Republicans, claiming that each of them wants to erode your freedoms and abuse the power of the state only in different ways.
I'm afraid I don't pay much of any attention to anybody else, really.
Granted, some or all of those fears may have some sort of sound footing in reality. Doesn't mean they're not being exploited. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-03 02:05 am (UTC)Everybody!
Fear is one of the best and long-established methods of controlling [weak-minded] people. Just look at medieval Europe. Everybody was afraid of everything all of the time. Despite all our airs, Western Culture today has NOT come very far since then. Parents frighten their children to make them more manageable (just think of the sub-texts inherent in stories like the Grimm Brothers). [Many] religious leaders frighten their OWN people into submission (and open them to abuse by the church itself). Doctors frighten their patients and the people who fund them. Politicos frighten everybody, as does the government and media.
The more frightened people are, the less they are likely to be able to think for themselves, the easier it is to abuse them for your own profit.