[forapurpose]

> how different is mental manipulation compared to physical manipulation as commonly seen with dictatorship?

While I think propaganda is a serious problem, all you need to do is look at the raging debate and issues being raised to see the difference between an open society and a dictatorship. Nobody said democracies and open societies don't have serious problems.

[wu-ikkyu]

Keeping the "debate" raging is a great way to keep any substantial action from being taken, as is the case with climate change.