The American People are...

[JoePhilly]

14. That phrase is often used as a persuasion device.

People who are unsure about some issue often look to see what "everyone else" thinks and then go with the group they think represents the majority.

You can take a room of average people and manipulate them by strategically placing loud individuals or small groups in 5 locations, similar to the arrangement of a 2-1-2 defense in basketball. If these folks can make enough noise, the "regular" people get the sense that almost everyone in the room holds a particular view. And they become more likely to agree with them when surveyed afterwards.

This is why the GOP says things like "America is a conservative country". The idea is to get people who are unsure to join "the majority".