Why? The politics of fear and the politics of self

The mid term election is upon on us and the politics of fear and self are extraordinarily evident. Let's begin with fear. Why fear? You know, the fight or flight response, the rage of chemical reaction telling you not to stand still, like a deer in the headlights. So I predict a record turnout. The Far Right fears the Left, the Left fears the Far Right. But the real question is why fear itself? The simple answer at all levels is survival. Animals need fear and proper reaction to fear for survival. It is true in politics.

And it all come down to the politics of self(self interest). Yes I am a cynic and I do believe that people act of of self interest. It begins at birth, probably in the womb. The first sound at most births is a cry. And so it begins. A baby's call to attention begins a lifelong adventure of seeking to full fill needs for food, ego, money. This country was founded on the principle of self. You know "no taxation without representation"(representation of SELF).

So the current and for that matter all political fights are rooted in the simple survival instinct. Thankfully there are at least rare occasions where self interest is out weighed by thoughts of the public interest. Read John Kennedy's Profiles in Courage as proof. But in the end fear can cause ugly, very ugly conflicts. Hate is really fear turned upon others. To rise above it is almost unnatural. In an election we should look for candidates that rise above the fray and speak to the true general good for all. But it is difficult and perhaps impossible for the electorate to escape from the clutches of fear and self.