Propaganda of fear
Consider the following quote and place your thoughts:
"It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificually induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear."
-- General Douglas MacArthur, Speech, May 15, 1951
I'm going to have to agree wholeheartedly. The easiest thing you have at your disposal to control the direction of the herd is fear. Not too much fear, mind you, but just enough to coerce them into traveling in the direction you wish them to go. You must also place yourself in a position of assumed 'security'. The sheep need to know where the pen is, as well as know that, once inside, they will be safe. The United States government has been using this tactic for quite some time. "No one is safe, there's a red commie bastard around every corner!", or "Terrorists are doing who knows what, who knows where." Once the herd knows what to fear, and to whom they need turn for safety, they are putty in your hands to do with as you please. Eventually, they will learn to hate what they fear and love what keeps them safe, until they have no problem giving up what makes them free, only to attain a sense of security.
I am remembered to the words of the late great Benjamin Franklin, who was quoted as saying, "The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either."