Talk about smoke and mirrors
What you said - government operating on a mixture of consent and faith hedged by fear, is the front side smoke and mirrors job. There is a similar job going on at the back side, but it is one that the people generally are not allowed to see. Just like the people cower before their government, their government cowers before those whom they fear, but the people are generally not allowed to be aware of this.
The sweet spot of Lindsey Wagner's revelations comes during part 6 of 8..... this is 9 minutes and 51 seconds standing between you and the truth of why your government cannot tell you the truth behind the national debt and the collapsing dollar. He explains why we are not allowed to be aware of what, and at who's behest, our government truly fears. Is there any truth in what he says? Obviously there is. Is there truth in all that he says? I dunno, but the truths that he speaks which are evident certainly are compelling ..... "they will make up any reason they can think of to convince us that Iran must be dealt with EXCEPT the one they don't want you to know.... many other nations have a nuclear bomb... why aren't they going after North Korea, or Israel or China. Why only Iran?.....".
The sweet spot in in part 6 but there are a few additional tasty morsels in the closing part 8. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbwMOvV6ctg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC61X78-OI0&feature=related