There is a sort of question on the whole principle of democracy. It is this Stalin was mourned by the entire USSR at his passing.  If almost in every home there had been one person arrested and sent off into the darkness of the night by the NKVD, then why did people mourn at his passing? You would imagine they would have rejoiced. The reason is that people opinions have no relationship with truth.

Whom so ever controls the press and popular media controls people's opinions. And who controls the newspapers and TV do not have any particular dibs on truth--that is knowledge of the way things really are.