The Republican propaganda machine has done an excellent job of staying on message.

That message?

Fear.

They have done such a good job of it that fear now permeates every level of governmental election, from the federal to the local.

Fear is: If we don't fight the terrorists there, they'll follow us home.

Hey, buddy, I got news for you. No matter what we do from this point on in Iraq and Afghanistan, they will follow us home. In fact, I'd bet a whole lot of money that a bunch of "them" are already "here."

Fear is: "We'd better find all them illegals and ship 'em home before they rape all our women, poison our kids with drugs waste all our money!"

The truth, of course, is that violent crime is not exclusive to the illegal immigrant community; the government, courtesy of the CIA and the Vietnam War, opened the floodgates to dope in this country decades ago; and, if you want to talk about wasted money, what about the trillions being tossed down the toilet in Iraq?

Fear is: The opposition to growth in so many of our communities.

Why? The more newcomers there are, the less power the old-timers hold. And, growth means people of different race, creed and color, the convenient warning flags to heighten suspicion.

Fear is: Rock-solid objection to individual choice, whether it's gay marriage or abortion.

Nothing creates more fear than challenging one's values, no matter how hypocritical one's actions are.

And, finally, fear is: That driving force to silence those of opposing viewpoints.

It's easily done by branding them as "troublemakers," "unpatriotic" and "anti-American." No matter that the founders of this country were a contrary, rebellious bunch of hooligans, "Thou shalt not differ from the norm" is the 11th Commandment in today's day and age.

This culture of fear is manifesting itself in the vilification of Democratic Party candidates for the White House, particularly Hillary Clinton.

Even Fred Thompson, the erstwhile goober from Tennessee who thinks he can lug his image around in the bed of a red pickup truck to heist votes, has joined the fray. One of the first manifestos he issued after tossing his hat into the ring was a chilling warning about the possibility of electing Clinton to the White House.

There was no substance, no reason, only the seed of fear that Clinton could become the first Madame President. There was no rebuttal of policy, no alternative, just a reinforcement of fear.

What Americans must truly fear is the remaining term of the man now sitting in the Oval Office as he continues to bloody the killing fields in Iraq and Afghanistan and threatens, according to a recent report, to level the entire Iran military in three days.

Shock and Awe, Redux, I guess.

What Americans must also fear is the fragile economy that is reeling like a punch-drunk pugilist as the mortgage industry sucks for clean air in the waste of its excesses.

But, what Americans must fear the most is the complete and total alienation of a public that sees no way out, sees no knight in shining armor riding to their rescue, sees no real leadership standing in the wings.

We've struck the iceberg, folks, and are sinking fast by allowing ourselves to fall into the web of the fearmongers who would have you believe there is danger in every face of a different color, faith that doesn't fit your particular belief system or lifestyle that differs from the so-called norm.

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About author Ed Kociela the City Editor of southern Utah's The Spectrum. He blogs at ed@edkociela.com. Ed Kociela the City Editor of southern Utah's. He blogs at www.edkociela.com