fear for your life is one of the most biologically fundamental states an organism can experience. this can be extrapolated from an individual to a group level, e.g., through constant threats of terrorism or existential challenges (real or not).
the (((9/11 attacks))) resulted in the american people accepting legislation they wouldn't have otherwise, such as the patriot act or the national defense authorization act (NDAA), which was recently utilized as a work-around so trump could launch a limited (for now) strike against iran. meanwhile congress has been out to eat lox and bagels.
the primary catalyst of government expansion for my whole life has been appeals to fear by governments and their friends in (((media))).
understanding and rejecting the paradigm by which they terrorize us is the first step to reclaiming sovereignty.