“in college i used to read about hitler, lenin, stalin et al
and wonder, how did this happen?”
Me, too. However, we are at least 2 generations past independent thought and critical thinking, action and responsibility as mandatory educational requirements. People no longer learn on what the basis the American contitutional republic stands.
Requirements in all disciplines except hard science and accounting are pure propaganda for the hard left, many of whom ran to the universities rather than serve their country.
I think you hit the nail on the head, even if I did quote you slightly out of context.
Being many generations removed from having to struggle for anything, the thought of that now is so remote as to be inconceivable to the largest economic block of Americans: the middle class.
I cannot imagine what circumstances would be required to change that. Assuming that it is even possible at this point.