freedom for me or perhaps my group and leave it at that....

One has to start somewhere . Small group and grow from there but not to leave it at that . All journeys start with that small group , an Idea , a movement all the way to a revolution if needed .
Steemit has many of the same principles . The Idea and foundation is already there . You just have to make up the network of bridges . You start out with basically nothing . The only requirement is work at it with no welfare or anything owed to you . You build your community from the ground up on nothing more than your self worth to the community .

What propaganda do you deliver to your audience to manipulate them into thinking your work is for them,

I have learned that people are going to be people . change the name and faces , still the same people
Even here we have the scammers , plagerizieres , the greedy and so on . The givers and the takers . We also have the movers and the shakers . Overall it's hopeful and disappointing at the same time . It doesn't guarantee anything but the opportunity . The opportunity of a peice of freedom