No. While I don't believe it's correct in the context that EternalImpaler used as I've never heard an official word from the government stating that the world will end in 2012, it's no secret that governments do try to scare their people all the time, it's how they get support in difficult times. 9/11 is the best example I can think of from the top of my head... the American government had everyone scared sh*tless. Bush pulled out the 'axis of evil' speech and told us all that Iraq had WMD. He used fear to convince his citizens that this what they had to do to keep them safe, and everyone believed him. It's used primarily to gain support- if you have everyone fearing something else, they're obviously more likely to offer support to the people claiming to want to keep them safe. So, to say that governments never use fear is just not very accurate.