One of the most important factors in me becoming a leftist was my weird obsession with Austro-Hungaria and the Byzantine Empire. No, I'm, not kidding. I learned about how much Russia sucked under the Czars as compared to other monarchies, so without even questioning or doubting US propaganda, I came to the conclusion Russians and other Eastern European people were better off, or at least just as well off, under communism(as I was told it was at the time) as they were before. I also was aware that the US was just in a better area resources and crop wise, so it made sense we were materially better off. I got made fun of in history classes for pointing this out, but no one could ever actually address my arguments. A bunch of other things happened too, but the underpinnings of the most basic propaganda not making sense historically or materially was vital.