Import
The Politics of Hope
Throughout history political leaders have used the Politics of Fear to motivate the public into supporting their agendas. If the general public believe that something or someone threatens their lives, livelihoods, or lifestyles they tend to concede power to government and authority figures. This makes it easy for unethically savvy leaders to make just about whatever they wish to have happen – happen.
Sometimes the Politics of Fear are frightfully effective. After WWI the Nazis managed to convince the public that Jews were gong to take everything away from them. The German citizens were told that the Jews were a threat to their livelihoods and lifestyles. The citizens of Germany gave their power away to the Nazis and found themselves living in a harsh police state that committed the largest genocide in history.
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Body Language in American Politics
When George Washington crossed the Delaware, according to the famous painting, he was showing a body language stance of confidence. He did this by standing erect with his hands on his hips. There is evidence of the same stance by Woodrow Wilson during a time when he was lecturing at a university and by Walter Mondale during his presidential campaign.
Many presidents and presidential hopefuls have shown body language signs of confidence and dominance. In the 1992 presidential debates, much of this was going on. Former President Bill Clinton, Ross Perot, and former President George Bush were all showing a palms down gesture that symbolized their belief in their superiority.
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