I think I can buy that last line abut manipulation. However, the various subsets of populations would get very complicated. You would have the illiterate, and otherwise truly ignorant, populations who can be broken down into "want to be manipulated" versus don't want. Then you would have a population of those who are capable of discerning propoganda, but don't care to (in some instances.) Interesting results. I never want to believe that a President or Prime Minister would lie (Goddam that Clinton and the "that woman" speech.) People would want to believe they have outside support for an inevitable outcome (invasion.) People would want to believe that the invasion was morally justifiable (especially when it is being done in their name but without any control over it.)