I think a large segment of mass media fuels the problem. Tabloid-style news is written to shock and anger readers, because that, unfortunately, is what sells.

I think a large segment of mass media fuels the problem. Tabloid-style news is written to shock and anger readers, because that, unfortunately, is what sells. Politicians realised the "benefits" of this long ago, stoking the fires of rage, whipping people up into a frenzy, all to "keep them safe". And so a large slice of the population really believes there are terrorists and criminals lurking around every corner - that things have never been more dangerous; and so they allow politicians to strip their freedoms and gain sweeping powers, because its all to "keep them safe".