These types of scare tactics have been used for longer than you may realize. When you switch on the evening news, what do you see? Some store got robbed at gunpoint, or some man/woman/child was murdered or kidnapped. A 45-second update on the unstable political situation in the Middle East. A few words from washed-up Army officers and so-called expert analysists.
After about five minutes, cut to commercial. What do we see? Try the new burger at McDonalds and get fatter! A preview for some crappy reality series you just have to watch! The upcoming once-a-year, dime-a-dozen sale at JCPenney or Sears! This luxury car you have no chance in hell of being able to own!
It is the sad but awful truth that the so-called "reputable" news shows are controlled by the very corporations you see in the advertisements. Think of the evening news as White Dwarf, a flashy marketing tool. You want some real news that Corporate America can't get its grubby hands on? Find a website such as
http://www.axisofjustice.org/. Don't trust CNN, don't trust NPR, don't trust
any media source that has a sponsor. Rage Against the Machine was right on the money when they released "Bullet in the Head."