> Pretending it is already the case is fine as long as you realize you are just pretending. I'm forced to wonder if Germans in the late 30s/early 40s considere

> Pretending it is already the case is fine as long as you realize you are just pretending. I'm forced to wonder if Germans in the late 30s/early 40s considered themselves living in a totalitarian state. If not, their response to the suggestion would probably be along the lines of your comment.