Are many of you learning to tell the difference between pro-war propaganda and 'the way things really are'?

The truth is, almost all governments manipulate their populations to fan the flames of "war hysteria" when needed. World War I was almost a totally useless war as an example. Is there anyone, other than an intellectual and scholar such as myself, that knows the causes of this war? A good rule of thumb is, "Doubt everything the government and military tells the public and assume it is a lie until it is proven to be factual by objective sources. That does not mean the "press." Doubt all members of the "press" as well! They have proven themselves to be unreliable again and again.