Back in the early Thirties, I wonder how many German citizens responded to the concerns other German citizens expressed about the direction their government was going with contemptuous remarks like "Oh, Sure! The sky is falling (sneer sneer)!"

Don, the example you have chosen damages your own position. "The sky is falling" is the response of someone who doesn't take a point of view serious. In the Germany of the 1930, like in any totalitarian regime, dissenting points of view were not shrugged off with a more or less silly remark, but were taken dead serious. Remarks against the "honour of Germany", slandering of der Fuehrer or his intentions could bring you to jail or worse.

So the response to your questions is, most likely no one at all. For even those listening to such remarks and not reporting were in danger of punishment. Your example beautifully demonstrates the difference between a totalitarian regime and a democracy with at least some basic human rights. I see your argument as unwillingly supporting Teribus' point about freedom of speech being an indicator that things are not as bad yet.

Wolfgang