People placed in a group constitute a herd. Herd (mob) mentality applies to government as much as to any other group of people, and government is just as prone

People placed in a group constitute a herd. Herd (mob) mentality applies to government as much as to any other group of people, and government is just as prone to authoritative and/or charismatic figures turning its mentality toward a negative end as any other group. Government is a mob -- it is up to those outside the mob to keep it aimed in the correct direction, because it won't do so on its own.