Apr. 15 2009 - 10:55 am | 6 views | 2 recommendations | 14 comments

Rise of the Mob

By DAVID KNOWLES

Over recent weeks, America has seen a growing segment of its population seize upon an age-old emotion: Outrage. Stoked by media personalities like Glenn Beck, exacerbated by our dire economic conundrum, and compounded by the election of our first African American president, the red-faced “I’m not going to take it anymore” expression of disgust can be witnessed in a number of recent (and disturbing) news stories. What picture emerges whey you connect these dots?

Gun sales are way up:

Statistics from SportsOneSource, a research firm that tracks the sporting goods industry, shows firearm sales up 39 percent nationally.

Texas Governor Rick Perry floating secession rhetoric:

“I believe that our federal government has become oppressive. I believe it’s become oppressive in its size, in its intrusion into the lives of our citizens and its interference with the affairs of our state.”

California militia promises to take over streets amid police budget cuts:

“They’re going to have rifles, shotguns, pistols—whatever they can get their hands on,” said 66-year-old Alan Pettet. “We’re not going out looking for trouble, but the first person who fires on us, will get a lot of return fire going his way.”

The Department of Homeland Security warns of growing numbers of violent right-wing extremists:

Right-wing extremist groups may be using the recession and the election of the nation’s first African-American president to recruit members, a Department of Homeland Security report contends.

Congressman Spencer Bachus says he has a list of 17 “Socialists” currently serving in the House:

“Some of the men and women I work with in Congress are socialists,” Bachus told local government leaders on Thurrsday, according to the Birmingham News.

Bachus gave the specific number of House socialists when pressed later by a reporter.

Tax day “Tea Party” demonstrations protest a little bit of everything:

…it does indeed recall the loony left marches and protests of the recent past. End the War! But which one? And how? I guess tone theme is that government should have no provocative role in a recession like the one we’re grappling with. But as those governors trying to refuse stimulus money will attest, this is not exactly a popular meme right now.

In a speech in which he seems to have forgotten about the FDIC, GOP Senator Richard Burr (N.C.) promotes a run on the banks:

“On Friday night, I called my wife and I said, ‘Brooke, I am not coming home this weekend. I will call you on MOnday. Tonight I want you to go to the ATM machine and I want you to draw everything it will let you take’” Burr said according to the Hendersonville Times-News. “And I want you to tomorrow, and I want you to go on Sunday.”

So, are we witnessing the rise of mob mentality? Has it always been here? Yes, to both questions, I think. It’s somewhat consoling to realize that the most vocal in the mob may also be the most marginalized. Though these stories have become the story on stations like FOX, the truth remains that GOP identification continues its descent, and the president’s approval ratings remain high. What we’re seeing is a hardening of an opposition, not a very convincing expansion of it. That doesn’t mean it is not potentially dangerous. It is.