Fear mongers, all

"America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud." -- President George W. Bush

"We start 2009 in the midst of a crisis unlike any we have seen in our lifetime, a crisis that has only deepened over the last few weeks...If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years. The unemployment rate could reach double digits. Our economy could fall $1 trillion short of its full capacity...In short, a bad situation could become dramatically worse." -- President-Elect Barack Obama

What is the difference between those two quotes?

The first quote came from Bush as he was rallying public support for an invasion of Iraq. The only thing standing between the boots of the U.S. Marines and Iraqi sand was a tad of hesitation from some lawmakers and some citizenry.

The second quote still lingers in today's newsprint, fresh from Obama's lips one short week ago. Obama was visiting on the public the idea that only a massive spending effort by the government could lift the mighty American economy out of the current mess.

"Only government can provide the short-term boost necessary...Only government can break the cycle that is crippling our economy" stated Obama.

The only thing that stands between an additional $800 billion in federal and taxpayer debt is public indigestion over the $1+ trillion that has already been committed.

Bush and his war. Obama and his spending bill.

The difference between the two quotes, and the only difference, is the subject matter, war and the economy. It is the similarity that is troublesome, and revealing.

What is the only thing that will overpower the logical mind? What is the only thing that can mute the reasoned argument? What is the one thing that can sway public opinion so reliably? What is the one thing that can convince an otherwise skeptical people to agree to something that they know they should reject?

Fear.

Bush knows this. So does Obama. Every politician knows this, and it is oft-used to gain favor for their policies and plans.

Do you wish America would have had the courage to put fear on hold long enough to consider the arguments against going to war in Iraq? How about another $800 billion in government spending and trillion-dollar deficits for the coming 3-5 years? Do you have the courage to temper the fearsome rhetoric with thoughtful analysis?

We will see. The war is already history, and hindsight is 20/20. The economy is now, but hindsight can be a valuable teacher.