I don't want to steer this thread too far off base, but I guess it was a pretty vague topic anyway...
I agree on your assessment of propaganda. I would even go so far as to say that it's pretty rough to propagandize folks who know they are being targeted. Knowing they are targeted breeds distrust and anger, which are not good emotions to foster if you want to be the leader, and have people follow your goals.
As far as the effect of strong individuals on the masses- good point. But I have to say I feel the masses are responsible for the creation, nurturing, and overall effect of the strong individual. Show me an example of an individual who wasn't effected by the masses. The masses choose which individual to follow. The masses even elect thier leaders, or choose to follow thier dictators, at least to some extent.
The masses aren't all that likely to follow or elect leaders who don't share common viewpoints. Or who want to change things against the wishes of the masses. For that matter, it's not all that likely for the masses to create an individual who has goals/ideas that are way off track of where the masses are headed anyway.
In a general sense, I think humans will continue to use/abuse resources for a short-term advantage. Some thought may go into the end result of this abuse, some guilt may even be felt. But in the end, profit and convenience win out. People will continue to view key things about their spiritual beliefs differently. They'll get along for a while, but there will be chaffing. At some point the chaffing becomes unbearable, and turns to shoving. This is especially true if key resources run low. The shoving turns to fighting. Somebody wins, and explains how wrong the loser was. Everybody is happy again, and folks can get back to using and abusing resources again. And forming different opinions again...
Negative attitude? Sure, maybe. But definately a common historic/prehistoric trend. Jealousy over who has more or better bananas. Arguments over who is following the correct religious deity. Blaming the other folks diety or refusal to follow your chosen diety on your lack of numerous, high quality bananas. The willingness to back your beliefs with force if necessary...
MtnMan
