One of the first things I noticed while reading chapter 6 was how similar the points of spreading propaganda were to how to pick a topic for a paper. The main point being how the topic needs to be specific enough to be unique but have a broad application. This makes the message memorable but in Hitler’s point, it slowly turns into insanity and relies on the people being in a vulnerable state. For both points to work, they need to reflect back on the original message.
Another thing that was surprising to me was how “leftist” his ideas sounded at first. He would dictate his experiences with poverty and notice the extreme wealth disparities in Vienna. The problem started the moment he decided not everyone should be included in his better society for Germany. Regardless of whether he was implementing leftist ideals, if it doesn’t include everyone, then the movement isn’t leftist.
In the introduction of the book, around page xxxiv, he lists 4 ways of dealing with the increment of the German population: abolish birth control, internal colonisation, acquisition of new territory, and expanding industry and commerce to buy food from abroad. This sentence looked like something I could expand on but with the phrasing and the wording, it was hard for me to understand.
One of the phrases I did understand was a quote from page 29, “Let us not try to condone this by saying that it is no better in other countries.” This sounds like a rebuttal to a common phrase said in the US, “If you don’t like it here then why don’t you leave?” Accepting the bare minimum from what a government should be doing isn’t gonna do it anymore. Critiquing systems put into place to oppress minorities should be expected and not seen as treacherous to want to find ways to improve the conditions of everyone.
