To: cnyndwllr who wrote (21843 ) 10/12/2004 4:20:20 PM From: kodiak_bull Read Replies (1) | Respond to Here is a more critical and annotated look at Herman's speech, which you are so enamored of:in times of peace. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? unless of course he fears for the safety of his town, his countrymen or his country, then he might have a point in his willingness to go to war, even if it means never coming back. Naturally the common people don't want war neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the dictators of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a fascist dictatorship, or a communist dictatorship but this would not really apply in a democracy, because the leaders, as elected by the people, represent the people in difficult choices such as war, price controls, rationing. The English were happy to fight against us in the 2nd World War, and didn't need to be lied to: they could see the bombers destroying London. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the dictators, provided you can control the flow of information and terrorize, with physical violence and even killing if necessary the opposition. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and make sure, as our Axis buddy, Japan, did, that they can hear nothing else , and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.except I wouldn't really know about any other country, since I've spent my life and political career here in Germany, and besides, I will be leaving you all very shortly on the cyanide express "
