The Politics of Fear. Politicians have a variety of ways to manipulate your emotions. Props. They know which buttons to push. They appeal to your sense of patriotism. Your morality. Your American pioneer spirit. But the most effective way is through fear. Communism. Socialism. Losing the American way of life. Losing jobs. And the biggest fear of all: Fear of people who look different from you. The only thing we have to fear is our fear mongering politicians ...