Humans are easily manipulated. It’s nothing new.
My first thought as well. The psychology of what has been going on these last few years resembles hacking the mind... just by using human psychology though.
I think this is even more nefarious than that. The problem with the old way is you con really only enslave people for 80-100 years or so then they figure it out and kill their oppressors and start over... usually.
What if you could be a slave, own nothing, and be happy... forever! That’s the brass ring for the commie bastards.