Almost 90 years ago Franklin D Roosevelt famously said; "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Is Roosevelt's phrase still relevant today? I grew up during the Cold War era when fear of nuclear annihilation was front and centre, remember the clock, with its dramatic "its one minute to midnight", maybe it was, but then again maybe the clock never got past 8PM and "they" were just using fear as a mechanism of control. The danger of nuclear annihilation is still with us today, although it seems to have taken a back seat to other more pressing fears.

The great fear today is of course the pandemic, which is real and extremely dangerous, just look at India and elsewhere and one realises the dangers. Here in Australia some would say the pandemic fear has been over stated so "they" can more easily control the population. Just when things seem to be getting back to normal, with some degree of calm, a fear is thrown out to spook the populace, eg some non descript PS saying; "the drums of war are beating" a spook chimes in with "expect a terrorist attack soon". If its not that its something else, anything, cockroaches in your cornflakes!

My question is how fearful are you, what in the world do you fear no end, and how does fear affect your life. BTW, some of us do have a genuine fear of the dark, or thunder storms, or someone stealing my Teddy Bear, I'm asking besides those internal personal fears, fears of the World you might have.

Fear is obviously being used by the Green, Marxist Left - climate change nonsense is their mainstay, currently bolstered by lockdowns,tracking and surveillance. Now they are trying to add 'health passports' to have people acting like black South Africans with passes during the apartheid era; 'show us your papers' Nazi or Stasi style. Mass immigration is a tactic to keep workers underpaid and docile. Critical race theory is another fear based weapon to cause unrest and suspicion. Their cancel culture tactics and constant attacks on democracy cause fear. They use social media in a particularly nasty and threatening manner.

I am surprised that an adherent of fear-based Green Marxist politics has to ask this question.

When a bit of fear doesn't work, they rev it up.

As from Monday, anyone arriving from India will face 5 years jail or a $66,000 fine.

For the first time, Australian CITIZENS will be banned from entering their own country, with penalties on the books for doing so.

Hi Paul,

I am fearful of COVID. And of getting the jab - because
of blood clots.

Sometime ago I developed a cough - and was taken to
hospital. They placed me in a "COVID" area overnight.
It scared the living daylights out of me. It was like
a mortuary. Anyway I was COVID tested and released the
following morning. The tests proved negative (Thank God),
and all was well. However, it's not something I'd want
to go through again.

So, yes - I am fearful. And I appreciate the fact that
our governments are taking steps to protect us from
people who may be carriers of this dreadful pandemic -
especially if they've travelled and been in any "at risk"
areas.

Foxy,

There is a difference between fear and hypochondria.

ttbn,

Yes. But I know of at least one hypochondriac
who ended up dead because no one believed him.

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

H. L. Mencken

Bad officials are the ones elected by good citizens
who do not vote.

George J. Nathan
(colleague of H L Mencken).

"For almost half a century, fear has dominated the outlook of Western societies. One of the distinctive features of this outlook is the tendency always to think the worst. And it is this tendency that has exerted an all too powerful influence over policymakers and experts during the Covid pandemic". (Frank Furedi)

According to Furedi, the decision to suspend the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine because of a possible link to blood clotting is a clear example of worst-case thinking. The imperative to avoid taking a risk, no matter how small, triumphed. And, as a result, risk-averse officials undermined the credibility of a life-saving vaccine.

Just one example in the China virus/ lockdown case. But the "precautionary principle" - AKA fear - has now invaded every aspect of our lives. We are made to feel discouraged and fearful about the future. We are suffering from the "deleterious impact of safetyism", particularly in the area of childhood, which is increasingly "organised around the anticipation of the worst possible outcome". Children have come to see themselves as fragile and vulnerable.

In particular, the climate change scaremongering has incited children to feel hopeless about their future: the media delights in showing us sobbing, hysterical children in front of mobs of activists waving placards about a doomed planet.

Furedi describes the fear as being " socially dominant". It is not fear "as an emotion" but rather fear as a "perspective", a "cultural orientation towards the world". We interpret everyday experience through it. It feeds risk-aversion, a heightened sense of vulnerability, a preoccupation with safety, and a lack of confidence towards the future.

As from Monday, anyone arriving from India will face 5 years jail or a $66,000 fine.
ttbn,
I heard that anyone who tries to hide the fact that they came from India by boarding flights to Australia from outside India are the ones targeted.
Apparently, some have flown to Doha & then booked to go to Australia, trying to give the impression they didn't come from India.
Totally different scenario !

A couple of cricketers took the Doha route I believe, but they did quarantine, and they did it before the jail threat. Still sneaky and putting themselves above others. It was made clear by the PM that there would be no special treatment for cricketers. It was probably their action that brought on the decision about jail and/or fines.

Interesting thread.

When the pandemic hit I was not long out of heart surgery. I became very afraid, to my shame, because I had occasion many times in life to say 'Now I can die happy', and 'Life owes me nothing'. I was afriad to die, even though I have been to graveyards and seen the graves of guys who were born after me and died before, and had relatively small and uneventful lives, or even fulfilled lives, whereas mine has been a teeny tiny statistical minority for extreme leisure, pleasure, freedom, wealth and security: a baby boomer who took most advantage of the times. I feel very fulfilled, but yet when old I disgracefully feared death, when just about everyone has had it harder than me and perished sooner with less complaint. Through my fault, through my fault, through my mosgt grievous fault. Amen.

Now, where was I? Ah, yes.

So this just goes to show the power of the machinery and engine of life that drives us on, as living things, to avoid death and seek life for it takes either a significant force, or a sweet oblivious antidote, to carry us off.

About fear and the pendemic, there is indeed an endemic symbiosis between the state, and the promotion of fear and conflict. The book title 'Crisis and Leviathan' explans it all in three words.

it is certain that the mainstream and political narrative has been contradicted over and over again, on all major premises, since the very beginning by reality, science, reason and ethics. Policy has been a disgrace.

We are reaching the state where every single thing they have said and done is flatly incorrect, has made matters worse, and justifies the name of totalitarian fascist tyranny.

At that stage, these political criminals and those who aid and abet them, put themselves out of the pale of civilised society, just as Mussolini earned the end he got.

They have become criminals and outlaws against all humanity for their enormous abuse of human rights, and they belong on the gallows.

Fact

I don't think I have ever felt fear. I was certainly too busy studying & playing sport in my school days to even think of the Cold War or nuclear annihilation. I was aware of it of course, but as I could do absolutely nothing about it, I saw no use even thinking about.

After joining the navy & becoming a fleet air arm fighter pilot I quickly realised that little Australia would have very little say in or effect on the big one if it happened, so it was not worth worrying about. I certainly did not live my life as if every day could be my last.

I did have some apprehension when coming down Conrod straight at 180 MILES/hour & I found myself catching 2 slow cars nose to tail at about 100M/H. If the back one pulled out to pass as I arrived we were all dead, but I was concentrating too hard to have room for fear.

I was also a bit nervous for a while, when out in the middle of the Coral Sea, 2 pieces of new rigging, just fitted in Cairns failed. If much more failed the mast would come down, & it was too rough for me to go up the mast to refit the old stuff. I spent some time studying the chart, & planning what I would do, & how to set up a jury rig the small motor in my yacht was designed for maneuvering in port, not crossing the big ocean.

As for Covid, I think we are pretty safe, thanks to restricted international access. It should be further reduced to make us really safe, but we should be OK, if bureaucrats & politicians don't stuff it up again. If we do get a new wave, well I finished my bucket list a few years back, & I've checked my will, so there is no point worrying. That would simply stuff up what ever we have left to enjoy.

PS. I didn't even think about climate change ttbn. If I worried about climate it would be about the low sunspot count. Cold is more likely to overtake us than heat. Of much greater possibility is the damage to our life style that attempting the impossible to control the climate will do, but worrying about even that will only give you sleepless nights for no effective result.

However it has nothing to do with us, & we can do nothing what ever about it The human race is on this planet for the ride, like all other life forms. The arrogance that puny little humans can even understand the climate & what drives it, let alone control it is ludicrous. Again no point worrying about what we can't effect. We should live our life as we desire, & not worry if the climate or a bus will cut us off in our prime. That way lies only misery & for naught.

Live laugh & be happy, a bad tomorrow may never come, unless you worry yourself into an early grave.

The Marxists have socialised people in the culture of fear, especially the young in the education system that they now control. This mode of socialisation has deprived people of one of the most important moral resources that one can draw upon in the face of fear — courage.

People demand "safe places", and squeal about being "offended".

Hi Paul,

I've been reading on the web so many powerful
stories of courage.

From young regional Australians,
from young soldiers, from courageous women honoured
on Australia Day. Women such as Grace Tame -
the sexual assault survivor championing change who
was elected Australian of the Year for 2021, and so
many others.

We need to listen and learn from these inspiring
young people who clearly demonstrate to us how to
cultivate courage. There are so many of them -
the up-standers, the activists holding governments
accountable, the down-trodden who rise in the face
of adversity. All those calling out hate and inequality
Young people demanding justice and trying to build a better
and kinder world.

They deserve our support, and they are the ones who are
the drivers that conquer fear and change things for the
better.

Hi Foxy,

Hear! Hear!

Could not agree more, young people are often maligned and ridiculed, for not sharing the beliefs and values of the Old Fogey brigade in our society. Talking with my grandchildren and other young family members I have ever confidence that tomorrow will hold a brighter future for the young who will inherit this world from us.

Did you see the interview with Brittany Higgins, a young 26 year old girl with so much resting on her shoulders. That girl has guts!

http://www.9news.com.au/national/brittany-higgins-meeting-with-prime-minister-scott-morrison-opposition-leader-anthony-albanese/b8170816-1db1-41a4-8a05-966fde783ffc

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the link.

I know from my children's friends and how hard they
work and what fine decent people they've turned out to be.
I am so proud of them. And my grand-children - and how
well they're doing.

So yes, I do have faith and trust in the future generations.
And that they will make our world a better place.

cont'd ...

Paul, Realistically though, the population of Australia
is ageing and it will become more and more dependent
on young people to drive the economy. It may therefore be
worthwhile to also discuss the kind of skills that will
be required for the young in future job markets because
the world of jobs and the skills required is also
changing.

.... more dependent on young people to drive the economy ..
Foxy,
Due to COVID-19 it may just turn out that it'll be the older generating the funding that the young people will depend on to drive the economy. As the young will be more tied to their jobs, the older who travel will be the ones spending their money ! More & more, older people are selling out to enjoy their money & that will free up housing needed by the younger.

Lots of people are exploiting fear from Islamaphobes to climate alarmists and anti-vaxxers. People are over motivated by fear of things that they don't understand.

Is fear driving the world?
No mental illness is.