The Only Thing To Fear…

Fear is a great motivator. Back in 1958, one small nun controlled 60 unruly kids in the third grade class at St. Brigid's School in Westbury, N.Y. We all learned to read and do math. We all memorized our prayers. Why? Fear. That good sister wielded a mean ruler.

In politics, fear also can get things done. President Bush used the fear of another terror attack to convince Americans to support the Patriot Act and an aggressive worldwide war against terrorism. The results were mixed, but Bush had little problem getting the money and consensus he needed.

Now, President Obama is using a page from the Bush playbook. He is flat-out saying that if the country doesn't embrace his giant stimulus package, the United States will experience "catastrophe." He uses the "C" word often. He is very clear about the fear.

Interestingly, during the campaign, Obama derided both Bush and Sen. John McCain for using the fear factor. Speaking in Ohio on March 1, 2008, Obama said: "America is at its best when it's not fearful. I mean, if you think about our history, our most shameful times have been when we were afraid."

How quickly times change. Obama is now very afraid that the economy will get worse, and he is not shy about saying so.

So how should we the people process the fear equation?

When George W. Bush and Barack Obama agree on something, I think we have to pay attention. Bush was genuinely concerned that the entire U.S. financial system would melt down last fall unless a massive government bailout was passed immediately.

Obama implies we are heading for another Great Depression without almost a trillion dollars in government spending to "create and save" four million jobs. And he is going to get the money. The interesting thing in the "create and save" scenario is that it is impossible to calibrate. How does anyone know how many jobs are "saved"? This is a smart ploy by Obama on the accountability front.

Cynics will rarely accept political warnings. Many Americans simply don't trust the government to look out for them. And I believe that skepticism is sometimes warranted. Both Republicans and Democrats allowed the U.S. economy to implode. What, they got smart all of a sudden?

With unemployment accelerating and millions of Americans suffering, I think we have to give the powers that be the benefit of the doubt despite our suspicions. But we should be honest. Obama does not know whether the trillion-dollar rescue strategy will work because no one knows.

That being said, President Obama is right about one thing: He was elected to deal with America's problems, especially the economy.

Now he has the chance.

Veteran TV news anchor Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor" and author of the book "Who's Looking Out For You?" To find out more about Bill O'Reilly, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. This column originates on the Web site www.billoreilly.com.

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