[semantic]

The answer is war. Actually, the answer is always war. War is the health of the state. War is a racket. Those who oppose efforts to expand and/or engage in war are targeted for elimination. Trump's anti-(selective) war sentiments run counter to deep-state foreign policy.

All societies, ancient or modern, have either rigid or implied caste systems. Warriors (kings) are always the top echelon, with priests running second. It is the responsibility of the intelligentsia - as represented by the shamans - to sell the virtues of war to the masses. It's actually quite easy: they simply appeal to patriotism.

Samuel Johnson coined the famous phrase "Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels". However, most do not realize he had this to say about our country's founders in 1777: "How is that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes (sic)?" (Page 364, Life of Johnson; Boswell)

You and I are on the same side. I just advocate considering more than rote, surface level sentiment to discover historical drivers.

[BroJoeK]

semantic to x: "Samuel Johnson coined the famous phrase

'Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels'.

However, most do not realize he had this to say about our country's founders in 1777:

'How is that we hear the loudest yelps for liberty among the drivers of negroes (sic)?' (Page 364, Life of Johnson; Boswell)

You and I are on the same side.
I just advocate considering more than rote, surface level sentiment to discover historical drivers."

I doubt if semantic and x are "on the same side" of very much.
Semantic is here arguing a quite cynical, non-ideological, atheistic and anti-idealistic perspective which will not be accepted here until Free Republic changes its name to "Progressives International".

And that will happen... when?
I'd say, long after H*ll freezes over.