Fear is used in social politics as a method of persuasion. However, there is an obvious fallacy when it comes to using fear in this way. For example, if we have two different ideals, such as Trump’s push for a border wall or letting immigrants come in and “destroy” our country, people are going to pick the border wall. This appeal to emotion exploits the fears in order to create support for Trump’s border wall, therefore making an invalid argument. American citizens are basically being forced to pick one or the other. Terrorism and violence are something no one wants (even though we are seeing an increase in home-grown white male terrorists) but the blame is being pinned on immigrants who are coming here to live a better life. Since they are foreigners quite a few people are convinced the violence is stemming from immigrants and Trump raving and screaming about rapists, drug dealers and what have you coming across the border solidifies their beliefs. We established this country based on fear of persecution, but Trump is persecuting immigrants who have made the United States their home.
Fear appeals do not necessarily increase persuasion when the claimed danger is increased, as we see with the movement going against the border wall. However, a moderate amount of fear is the most effective attitude changer. In the article concerning Trump’s use of fear, he uses concrete and abstract examples to persuade his rally since the fear is already instilled, he is just hammering the nail in the coffin so to speak. Uncertainty and unfamiliarity are held in a regard that make citizens wary and Trump can easily twist it in his favor. According to the Time article Trump’s formula is clean and uncomplicated: “Be very, very afraid and I am the cure.” Using fear is dangerous in that Trump is using the rhetoric of fear to not just make people scared but get angry. There is a shared sense of a threat and people are going to fight said threat. A metaphorical wall goes up between “them” and “us” causing more of a division in this country. Countries can’t be run on chaos, it will come to crumbling halt. The options are limited, and American citizens are being backed into corners with a gun to their head.