"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."
-- Herman Goering at the Nuremberg trials
More at Snopes
Well, according to the Wall Street Journal, it's down to "you can only fool 29% of the people all of the time."
ReplyDeletehttp://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/05/11/bushs-approval-ratings/
One more point and he ties Carter during the hostage crisis.
How come I get no pleasure out of saying, I told you so?
ReplyDeleteTell me about it. I wrote a novel in 1990-1991 about a statistical tie in the 2000 election, caused by a fake 3rd party run that siphoned off votes, leaving the country in the hands of a shadowy corporate cabal.
ReplyDeleteDeleted a duped comment. Now watch this one double.
ReplyDeleteTruth really is stranger than fiction.
ReplyDeleteI just checked that Snopes link... I'd known the quote was real, but never seen the whole context, which makes it even more powerful.
ReplyDeleteAnd relevant.
BTW, the 29% was apparently before this latest NSA clusterf***k, so he might be beyond the Carter mark now.
ReplyDelete