> "...has often been used as proof of the gullibility of the masses" Spot on! gullibility is a very serious issue, it's a lot easier to blindly follow than to

> "...has often been used as proof of the gullibility of the masses" Spot on! gullibility is a very serious issue, it's a lot easier to blindly follow than to question, to research, to form an opinion. True for humanity in general, not specific to Russia. On the other hand, if you think about it, gullibility may not be an issue at all, but a psychological defense. When times are tough we tend to be more gullible, and it brings us comfort to hear what we want to hear, or listen to confident speakers who briefly "make sense".