Recent polls have shown that both sides of the political spectrum fear for the future of our country. Thank heaven there is one thing that both sides agree on: fear.

But the nature of our fear helps reveal the deep polarization of our citizens. One side says it fears that the country is headed toward socialism. The other side says it fears that the country is headed toward autocracy. Both sides say they fear that we will lose our freedoms.

It is extremely difficult to reason with a person or a group that is seized by fear. We have to get beyond that fear to do the right thing.

We need to stop fearmongering. The Wikipedia definition of fearmongering is “a form of manipulation which causes fear by using exaggerated rumors of impending danger.” Both sides are guilty of it.

Our democracy was founded by deep thinkers. They knew that the fear of a mob was an extremely dangerous thing, and they tried to prevent it from getting control of our country by including certain elements in our Constitution.

Unfortunately, ill-intentioned deep thinkers have eventually figured out very well how to use fear to undo our democracy. We must overcome our fears, think deeply without being driven toward our lowest reflexes by fear, and resolve our differences.

We all want basically the same things: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Ben Lounsbury, Auburn

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