1) Glassner states “Panic driven public spending generates, over the long term, a pathology akin to drug addicts. While Glassner was mainly talking about spending on bills and the formation of public policy; there is a relationship between the level of fear people have and the amount of consumerism
– The connection between fear and consumerism is simple: when we are afraid we purchase goods and services to try and assuage those fears by the means of:
Security: locks, home security systems, car alarms, weapons for home defense, storage units, safety deposit boxes.
Escape: vacations, food, entertainment, and other products that focus on the removal from real life (even though real life has become increasingly superficial because of consumerism)
Panic and fear become a part of our culture when news reporting turns into fear mongering instead of coming up with solutions
2) Pay close attention to the Three Specific Techniques of Fear Mongering (Repetition, Isolated Incidents as trends, and Misdirection). What is the purpose in creating a panic driven public? Can you see this happening in various forms today?
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