Some may find the comment which precedes this interesting as well:

Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.

Alas, the conflict setting the context for these comments was the last time the US Congress declared war (WWII). Fearful of the political consequences of taking responsibility of such actions, Congress has consented to letting subsequent Presidents (including our current administrator) initiate ill-defined actions. We, the people, no longer have a say in the matter as our elected representatives will not take a stand one way or another; they will chatter at great length, but will not declare a beginning nor end to hostilities.

ETA: emphasis is "declare war". Consent to fund POTUS-initiated actions is missing the point.

Except the military action in Iraq was authorized by Congress by H.J. Res. 114, March 3, 2003. Congress also controls the funding though they have been slack to use that power.

>Congress also controls the funding though they have been slack to use that power.

I think that brings us full circle: "...and denounce the pacifists [or legislators who might defund unpopular military actions] for lack of patriotism [being 'weak on defense'] and exposing the country to danger."

For others who are curious and don't recognize this:

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview/id/235519.html

So do something about it. If you don't know what to do, figure out what to do.

The problem is, how do you tell whether you're brainwashed or not?

It is all too easy to pretend that people have no say in the actions of their commonwealth, and much too difficult to believe that patriotism, pacifism, idealism, and conservatism each have something important to say.

I am unimpressed with your cynicism.

"Cynic" is what the idealist calls the realist.

The capacity for accurate observation is often called, "cynicism" by those who haven't got it.

The quote is fine as long as you don't take as an absolute statement of the only way things can be. It is a fact that the outlined strategy is almost always effective.

Thanks, that's what I meant by including it this discussion.

Personally, I would hope we could raise the general level of skepticism and equip ourselves with a Sagan-like "Baloney Detection Kit" so that everyone is aware of this technique for motivating populations towards conflict and that this hopefully makes us all more immune to it.

Patriotism is often an arbitrary veneration of real estate above principles.

~George Jean Nathan

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

~Samuel Johnson

As a liberal, I'd like to thank you for invoking conservatism in defense of fascism. It's very satisfying for me.

As someone who doesn't pick a party but rather considers each issue without the taint of party lines, I think labels are hilarious... and stupid.

"liberal" and "conservative" are not party lines - they are methods of thought.

Fascists generally aren't liberal, and vice versa.

@saraid216 - I was in no way trying to paint myself as in individualistic personality phenomenon. Not really sure what you're trying to contribute.

@Karunamon - Sure, but dropping into groupthink in any setting is a dangerous thing to do. The earth is flat, etc.

You are a very special and unique snowflake. Just like every other snowflake.