It is a major method of propaganda. The "ruling class" set the current acceptable ideas, but encourage lively discussions between those acceptable ideas. Also related to "controlled opposition".
Notice "thanks, I don't need to be governed, I'll govern myself" is never one of the options. :D
Hard to disagree with that.
I think "thanks, I don't need to be governed, I'll govern myself" is where my line "There comes a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, so sick at heart that you cant take part, you cant even passively take part, & you've got to place your bodies upon the gears, upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you've got to make it stop! You've got to indicate to the people who run it to the people who own it, that until we're free we will dismantle every bolt and every screw, and the machine will be prevented from working at all!"
came from!