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[I really think that half the reason we are seeing so much agitation in the world is just old-fashioned boredom. Not the "There's nothing to do around here" kind of Saturday-afternoon layabout boredom, but a spiritual ennui that is a direct result of material surfeit.]

Hysteria is big business in the media. First they create it, then they report it. The more people that get drawn into the hysteria, the more advertising in the midst of hysteria costs, the more money is made.

Hysteria is personal for the social bubble clicks in the elite echelon ranks of the rich and famous. They strive to attain some sense of self worth. In their own minds, self worth is the measure of what your social bubble colleagues think of you. If you are Alec Baldwin, it is important that Martin Sheen think you are making a difference in the world. This makes Alec feel good.

Hysteria is a tool for politicians. The more hysteria there is, the more justification for legislation, the more important they are, the more their face is on TV, the more spots they will get in the history books. Hysteria gives them an opportunity to react with media sound bytes.

Oddly, all three of these groups work in unison to feed to and off of each other. The rest of America seems to just let the hysteria become everyday life and absorbs it as fact after hearing the same crap enough. A few (like those posting and reading hear) challenge the fodder and educate themselves by exploring alternate information sources.

Hysteria is big business in the media. First they create it, then they report it. The more people that get drawn into the hysteria, the more advertising in the midst of hysteria costs, the more money is made.
Hysteria is personal for the social bubble clicks in the elite echelon ranks of the rich and famous. They strive to attain some sense of self worth. In their own minds, self worth is the measure of what your social bubble colleagues think of you. If you are Alec Baldwin, it is important that Martin Sheen think you are making a difference in the world. This makes Alec feel good.
Hysteria is a tool for politicians. The more hysteria there is, the more justification for legislation, the more important they are, the more their face is on TV, the more spots they will get in the history books. Hysteria gives them an opportunity to react with media sound bytes.

Oddly, all three of these groups work in unison to feed to and off of each other. The rest of America seems to just let the hysteria become everyday life and absorbs it as fact after hearing the same crap enough. A few (like those posting and reading hear) challenge the fodder and educate themselves by exploring alternate information sources.

You, sir, are completely and utterly correct. This is the REAL message of the book "State of Fear," by Michael Crichton. It would do us all well to realize that the media, the elite, and the politicians ALL have a stake in keeping us perpetually afraid, running from one crisis to the next.