How to Combat the Politics of Paranoia
To remain sane in our chaotic age requires one to reject the politics of paranoia and embrace truth.
Amidst these turbulent times, friends and acquaintances have often asked me how one can separate the wheat of facts from the chaff of rhetoric and combat the politics of paranoia. As you can imagine, the presidential campaign has increased solicitations for said advice. Thus, in a bipartisan spirit—for these suggestions apply to messaging across the political spectrum—I have composed this (hopefully) helpful summation.
But first, the needed mea culpa.
In an instance of the physician not healing himself, every morning, I wake up and make myself miserable by opening my email inbox and social media sites to peruse ever more frightening items about the imminent demise of our free republic, specifically, and/or humanity, generally. Yes, I willingly engage in this masochistic quest to stay abreast of current events. Though, in my defense, current events do bear some responsibility for engendering despair and despondency. Further, I openly admit to penning and posting articles upon current events. Though, again in my defense, I do try to compose them as analytical surveys rather than as frantic calls to action. While I do not always succeed, the point of this mea culpa and summation is precisely that: to remain sane in our chaotic age requires one to reject the politics of paranoia and embrace truth.
No, it will not be easy.
During this presidential election, billions of dollars will be targeted at you by politicians, their operatives, issue advocacy groups, and the traditional and social media during to scare you witless; induce your compliance; and cajole and coerce your consent to their governance and implementation of their agenda.
Again, both sides will continue to do this. But what will separate the facts from the rhetoric is the following:
- The scope of the fear being engendered;
- The factual basis for that fear and its proposed remediation;
- The degree to which this “solution” entails the infringement your freedoms, such as the freedom of conscience; and
- The establishment of dependence upon the political class.
Succinctly, then, herewith is the political rhetoric “life hack”: the greater the fearmongering, the lesser the factual basis for its dire prediction; the fewer precedents for its remediation; and fewer rights and autonomy you will retain in implementing its “solution.” How you apply this life hack is entirely your decision.
In conclusion, in my own effort to combat the politics of paranoia, there is also one final bit of advice I have gleaned from an unexpected source.
During the depths of the Great Depression and at a time when fascism and communism were on the rise, in his First Inaugural Address, President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously warned against being fearful. In his opening, FDR inverted the rhetorical tricks of the politics of paranoia:
I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself – nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.
FDR asserted he would not overstate the financial crisis, which in fact spoke for itself, and recognized his responsibility to offer an honest assessment the public deserved and demanded. He then explicitly stated that the American people would overcome this crisis. Thus, his “fear itself” statement was to emphasize the American people’s faith in themselves, which had been vindicated time and time again during crises. Bluntly, FDR sought to diminish fear so the people could think clearly, make their own assessments, and voluntarily consent to his proposed solutions.
That many of FDR’s proposed solutions ultimately did not work and may have entailed the curtailment of some of the privileges and prerogatives of the powerful is beyond question. But what is also beyond question is that FDR’s continual reaffirmation of trusting the American people with the truth, however harsh, and urging them to reject facing it fearfully laid the foundation for the salvation of civilization from Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.
Importantly, however, it is equally inarguable that when FDR allowed his own fears and those of the public to guide his decisions, it resulted in the patently unjust internment of Japanese-Americans, which extinguished their liberty and expropriated their property.
Today, we can also be certain of one ineluctable fact. No matter how fearful they may make the public feel, those politicians and their cohorts who peddle the politics of paranoia are the real cowards. They are afraid to be honest with you because their great fear is…
You.
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