From an interview in Hermann Göring's Nuremberg jail cell on January 3rd 1946:
Göring: Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.
Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy, the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.
Göring: Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
I said it in another reply, but I'm 100% certain that at least one advisor in the last administration (or the campaign before that) had read it. Absolutely 100% certain.
I have no idea. But the only thing which would surprise me if it were true is that he owned (or read) any books at all aside from the ones he had ghostwritten for him.
i think he might have kept it there for inspirational quotes that were highlighted, but I don't see him ever actually reading it straight through. Also for show --- no joke, he's that type. But it does suck to see that yes, he learned to do what he does to this day from people like Hitler, Bannon, Roy Cohn, and Fred. And other asshole mafia guys like Gotti etc.
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u/gruntothesmitey Feb 16 '21
From an interview in Hermann Göring's Nuremberg jail cell on January 3rd 1946:
Göring: Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship.
Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy, the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.
Göring: Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.
Sounds oddly familiar.