Why are we Such a Fearful Society?

Written By: Why are we Such a Fearful Society?  |  Posted: Friday, April 24th, 2015

            This is not an over statement. Things have changed in our everyday life.  Growing up, my generation did not live in a fearful society. Children played, parents made decisions, men worked in their shops and had no thoughts about the possibility that what they might say or do could somehow land them in jail or cause them to be invaded by outsiders. That has changed. Today, there is a fear that is prevalent and that pervades society. It comes from so many directions it is hard to name them all.  Terrorism talk has raised our fears for the first time. We are concerned if a person is a certain nationality.  The invasion of the immigrants along with the increase of the Muslims in America has resulted in new fears. The threat of a child being stolen has increased. Racial conflicts have resurfaced to the point of new found fears. Home defense is talked about and now folk are packing their pistols in light of the world in which we live. Child abuse is on everyone's lips. Rape accusations (marriage would take care of most of this) are everywhere. Medical decisions leave parents wondering if they might lose their children.  Applying the rod of correction causes parents to fear big brother.  Even police contact with the normal populace has left all of us conscious that we might say or do or participate in something that results in fines or even jail time. This is unbelievable, but it is true, and it is the world we live in.  The fact that sound parents have to even think about social workers interfering in their homes and lives is so uncomely words hardly can express it.

   Why has it comes to this point is the question? Is it the people in general? Are we finally waking up to crimes and sins and things long overdue? Who shall we blame for this fear? The social workers?  The economy? The educational system? Drugs and drink and sex?  Is this the fault of a weak military or the feminists or the liberals?  Ah, the liberals. That is the problem for sure! Not really.

   No, the main problem is identifiable, yet maybe surprising to some.  It is those who are in authority in our cities, counties, states, and nation.  The initial temptation was to blame the laws on the books in our day and age.  There are certainly enough bad laws to do this.  They are not the real problem, though.  They are a problem, but the bigger problem is the very people who execute these laws. You must remember that people in civil power do not have to execute immoral laws.  They can refuse, quit, or defend those people who are doing right. In general, though, they do not defend people who are doing right.  Putting this on a local scale, the fears you experience in the town or city you live in are mainly due to the town and county councils, the prosecutors, the judges, and especially the sheriffs.  They are the ones executing the local laws that have created this atmosphere of fear. And they are the ones who could alleviate this fear. Our local officials and powers that be could go on record publicly, regularly, and clearly with words that would alleviate these fears from your local circumstances.  Further, they could, by their actions and decisions, plainly show that there is no need to fear. To say there is no need to fear as long as you abide by the law no longer suffices. "It is the law" is a bygone statement. For many people, laws take away freedom, and some are simply immoral (no fault divorce) to settle for that.  No, the powers that be must clearly show that they see this problem and that they will not support bad laws, the criminalizing of parents and business owners and people in general, and they must be specific about what that means.

   So remember, to the degree you experience fear in your town and city, realize that the chief culprit, or means to eliminate it in your society, is the city and county council members, the police chief, the prosecutors, the local judge, and especially the sheriff. Remember this.  They are either the problem or the answer to the fears we deal with today in a way our grandparents never knew.

   Dan Stanley is an owner and contributing editor of The US Journal.  Email: .