Stop The Fear

The marvelously Orwellian-named Department of Homeland Security is sponsoring programs aimed at schoolchildren called Stop The Bleed.

The Times calls this an acknowledgment of "the sad reality that shootings at the nation’s schools are far too prevalent", but I call it something else: Fear maintenance.

The Rethuglican governments have been determined for a long time to keep the people of this country afraid.  9/11 was a great opportunity in this regard.  (Or achievement, if you go the conspiracy theory route.)  

We now allow ourselves to be made afraid of exploding shoes and water bottles at airports.  Muslims.  Blacks.  Refugees.  You name it, we fear it.  "If you see something, say something" is a message that anything you observe that isn't part of your boring routine is a potential life hazard to be reported to authorities.  "For your security" is the ultimate excuse that lets petty authoritarians get away with any abusive rules they like.

Why do they do this?  People who live in fear look to autocratic figures to reassure them.  To take over and remove their potential for making a bad choice.  To be strong and "protect" them. 

Just as Putin "protects" the Russians.  And us, by proxy.