282RA, you have brought to light a very important issue. I hope it is something that gets more attention.
This reminds me of when I was helping people who were coming out of cult experiences, trying to sort out what was a false idea and what was true, what was their cult programmed personality and what was the personality they wanted to continue into the future.
One statement that was clearly made by a person who had helped many people regain their lives, "group think" takes advantage of our most altruistic intentions. A leader or group can use our best intentions, our highest ideals, our desire to help the world, to fight for good and freedom, etc., to make us follow the leader and remain loyal. It is amazing how strong this bond can be and to what extent people feel completely locked into an activity that they have been programmed for. It is amazing how people will leave their children behind and pursue what they have been programmed to do by strong emotional conditioning.
A close friend of mine has a young son who joined the National Guard right out of high school. It was before the Iraq war. He was a junior olympic champion in biathlon target shooting/ski racing. He was planning on winter rescue work in the National Guard. They promised to pay for his college education when he signed up. Now, he is back home after spending over a year in Iraq, and they told him at the end of his semester in college, he has to come up with the money himself to pay the tuition. The fund is empty for college tuition for the national guard. He told his mom, don't tell anyone, don't call a senator or complain, it would only make me look bad. We are supposed to keep our mouths shut.