Five patients made 8,303 emergency calls in a year - BBC News Website

Basically, this is the MO for the political right in most countries

 

fundamental attribution error, perhaps?

http://changingminds.org/explanations/theories/fundamental_attribution_error.htm

btw the site has some potentially useful stuff.

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[more specifically, i wonder if what you are referring to could be outlined roughly like this:]

1) exploitation of fundamental attribution error can be used to inflame
2) moral panics and scapegoating, which produce
3) public non-vigilance and zeal concerning
4) special pleading
- which is like "those strict rules and norms we claim to
hold dear and are obligated to obey don't apply to YOU
LOT", and leads to
6) public acceptance of desired
7) policy, for desired
8) outcome.