Only in times of great stress (think Patriot Act post 9/11) can real change occur.
Whether that one was for the better may be a matter of discussion though...
Fear seems to be the best motivator to get voter support. If you can make them affraid of something, they will comply.
Yeah, but that seems to be a bad thing, at least to me. All the crap that happened after 9/11 is a clear sign of that. Also fear of nuclear power means that it will be abandoned...
Most people are affraid of change and it is very easy to instigate fear of the unknown in them. So again that facilitates the status quo.
I sometimes do wonder whether democracies will ultimately be doomed because of these effects.
On the other hand, the US has been doing fine for quite a while now...
It is the only thoughts that gives me hope that not all is lost for the west.
