I think a required class for US students should be Media Analysis and Speechwriting. One could then, at an early age, observe the ease with which a strong orator and a decent messenger can use language and emotions and sliced data sets to manipulate large groups of people. Next level is Intro to Alternative Investments and Shell Corporations.
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@agitated_trash
Had such a class, with an in-class exercise where one ringer student was tasked to manipulate a group's decision. First pro, then con.
Was trivially easy.