After writing that “Hope Does Not Equal Fear” a couple of days ago, I saw this piece in the Washington Times today.
“Mr. Hope has to be careful not to become Dr. Doom,” said Frank Luntz, a political consultant and author of the book “Words That Work: It’s Not What You Say, It’s What People Hear.”
It appears that I am definitely not alone in feeling that much of what is being said and attempted to be done in response to the economic slump will be unhelpful and is being pushed on the basis of improper motivation.
The article begins with these words.
From crisis to catastrophe. Off a cliff. Dark, darker, darkest. Mortal danger of absolute collapse. Armageddon.
President Obama and top Democrats on Capitol Hill are deploying these and other stark predictions of doom and gloom to push through their economic-stimulus package. In terms not heard in Washington since the late 1970s under President Jimmy Carter’s watch, the new president has sought to terrify Americans into supporting the $800 billion-plus bailout bill.
While President Bush was accused shortly after taking office in 2001 of “talking down the economy” – and for saying the economy was “slowing down” – Mr. Obama is using ever-heightening hyperbole to hammer home his message. But the strategy brings great risk for the “Yes, We Can” man, who just three weeks ago told America in his inaugural address that despite “a sapping of confidence across our land,” his election meant Americans had “chosen hope over fear.”
I will repeat what I said before. I don’t want to follow anyone who motivates with fear. Fear is the opposite of love. Fear is not hope. Fear is not the basis of faith.
We must, as 1 Timothy 2 exhorts us, continue to pray for the leadership of this country. It appears they are afraid and are so wedded to the idea of being in power that they’ll do anything to maintain their semblance of control. Even the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has said that the stimulus will be harmful over the long haul, which seems obvious; nevertheless, many congressional leaders continue the rhetoric that the end of the world is near if we don’t spend a trillion dollars (that will all be debt).
Come on leadership – wake up! Of course, they won’t until we do… Cry out to the Lord and cry out to your leaders!