Without a constant and never-ending stream of FEAR, power dissipates. People quickly realize that they don't need the bureaucrats.
In America, the generation of FEAR has become an art form. Different interest groups jockey for power and taxpayer loot. They try to outcompete one another in the generation of FEAR.
The military-industrial-complex is the king of the hill. Americans for 100 years have been afraid of foreign shadows. War is the *ultimate* government program.
Other groups want some of the FEAR action too. The "climate change" interests want everyone to FEAR that if government is not granted extraordinary power and $$$, the entire Earth will turn into a fireball (or ice cube, depending on the day).
FEAR is the oxygen of government.
Liberty asphyxiates Power.
(Oh, and by the way, the ice caps *expanded* in the time that Gore made his prediction.) >>
"FEAR is like oxygen to government." YES, and different political parties carve out different areas of fear. To choose a party, ask yourself what you are afraid of.