Doug Nadel: An old propaganda plan

When asked at the time of the 1945 Nuremberg trials if the methods of Nazi propaganda could lead people into war and atrocities in a country like the United States and whether the voice of a free people would halt extremism, Reichsmarschall Hermann Goering replied: “Of course the people don’t want war. But after all, it’s the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it’s always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it’s a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger.”

And so it begins again.

This story was originally published November 11, 2016 at 5:22 PM with the headline "Doug Nadel: An old propaganda plan."