Most people don’t think or reason. They react, often irrationally. Chances of being struck by lightning are much greater than becoming a terrorist attack victim.

Death by auto accident, preventable diseases, violence at home by one family member against another, alcoholism or excessive use of harmful legal drugs is infinitely higher – what media propaganda never explains.

Media hyped fear convinces most people of nonexistent dangers. Early November Gallup data showed only 3% of Americans called terrorism the nation’s top problem – polling done before the Paris attacks, compared to 46% in October 2001. Expect a much higher fear level when new polling results are available.

Four earlier 2015 Gallup measures “showed an increased (public) concern about terrorism” – from 39% last year to 51% in 2015.

Opinions on 15 issues were polled. A possible future terrorist attack was the third-ranked public concern after the “availability and affordability of healthcare” and “the economy.”

Nearly half of Americans fear they or a family member will be victimized by terrorism at some future time. The highest level recorded was 59% post-9/11 – people not realizing their fears were and continue to be entirely unjustified.

In June, Gallup found only two-thirds of Americans expressed confidence in Washington protecting them from a future terrorist attack – “the lowest level of trust recorded in the history of this trend question (first asked) in late 2001.”

Gallup attributes the low figure to the public’s lack of “confidence in the government in general.” Americans call ISIS and international terrorism overall “critical threats to the vital interests of the United States” – the greatest one on a list of eight possible ones, including the “military power of Russia” and “economic power of China.”

By a two-to-one margin, Americans want terrorism confronted without sacrificing civil liberties – as compared to the months post-9/11 when they were split on this issue around 50 – 50.

Polling data didn’t reveal public ignorance about state-sponsored terrorism. Propaganda works, convincing most people about nonexistent threats, including ISIS possibly invading their communities.

Gallup data showed 43% of Americans favor “sending (US) ground troops to Iraq and Syria” to fight ISIS, unaware it’s a US creation.

A post-Paris attack Washington Post/ABC News poll showed increased public fear of terrorist attacks, greater willingness to use US combat troops in the Middle East, opposition to admitting refugees, and willingness to sacrifice civil liberties for security.

81% of Americans believe a future terrorist attack on US soil is likely, large numbers of lives lost. Most respondents don’t think  government can stop it.

Over 70% want federal action against possible terrorist threats, even if it means personal privacy intrusions.

60% support use of US combat troops against ISIS – 73% back more airstrikes. Americans are easy marks to dupe into favoring what demands opposition.

The late Michael Mandel’s important book, titled “How America Gets Away With Murder: Illegal Wars, Collateral Damage, and Crimes Against Humanity” discussed its lawless enterprise, its fabricated humanitarian intervention claims, and by implication how easy it is to convince most people to support what harms their welfare and self-interest.

Polling data confirm it. Most Americans are chumps. No matter how many times they were fooled before, deceiving them again is easy. Propaganda works.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].