The propaganda playbook looks like this:
Identify a falsehood that’s convenient for tyranny
Make it as fashionable as possible
Make dissenting opinions as unfashionable as possible
Fashion is central.
This is the “manipulating psycho-economic calculations” I’ve been talking about (though it definitely needs a sleeker catch phrase). Most people would rather fit in (and with no cost) than be accurate (but be outcast).
Propagandists control what’s true by controlling what’s cool — exactly like the women’s smoking campaign from last week.
Propagandists use our natural desires against us.