Terrorizing Politicians

The Wall Street Journal notes that 71% of Republicans describe themselves as Tea Party supporters:

'The tea party has to a certain extent scared the Republican Party,' said one poll respondent, Tim Bahmer, a 44-year-old Republican and self-employed auto mechanic from Charlotte, Mich. 'From what I've seen of what the tea party is saying, I think that could be the change [Republicans] could benefit from.'

That reminds me of something Thomas Jefferson said:

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

After decades of being told to fear terrorists, fear big banks, fear Wall Street, fear global warming cooling, fear second-hand smoke, fear big oil, and fear runny eggs, the Tea Party no longer hears the politicians cry wolf. Instead, it is teaching elected officials to fear election day.

What could be healthier?