I wonder who the NY Times mule was?

[Hydra]

11. Exactly

The illusion of freedom is very useful to tyrants. Allowing people to have a venue to vent allows them to keep an eye on you and eliminate you if the need arises.

If they don't have that, they have people like the unibomber- loners who can become extremely adept at keeping out of sight while they wreak havok. That's why the "lone gunman" BS they peddle is both inaccurate and at the same time a window to their greatest fear. Someone who is outside their control who can hurt them.