Guys,
Here are two quote supporting both your points.
Barry
Here's a quote from Abraham Lincoln who saw all this 146 years ago.
"I have the South in front of me and I have the bankers behind me, and for my country I fear the bankers most." - Abraham Lincoln
And here's Hermann Goering, second in command under Hitler.
"Why of course the people don't want war. 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? 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 leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or 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 peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing thecountry to danger. It works the same in any country."