Penguin was a heinous criminal.
If, throughout his decades-long criminal career, he had never once realized exactly who his crimes were hurting, then he was doomed never to stand with the common people. Even if he compromised temporarily for the sake of the situation, he would ultimately choose betrayal.
That was why Bruce had never intended to push him toward the grassroots—what if he accidentally died on the road to revolution? Wouldn't that make him a hero of the people?
So Bruce set up a filtering mechanism for Penguin—he artificially created an intellectual wasteland around him.
Why else would people say Joker and Batman were the perfect opponents? Their clashes were spectacular, and their cooperation was equally ingenious.
The entire process of the Ande Jin case designed by Joker had actually been a form of filtering as well.
Not all people were brainless. There were simply too many of them. As long as he fooled enough of the brainless ones, it would be more than enough to stir up a tidal wave of public opinion.
Some realized that the brutal kidnappers were the root of the entire tragedy. This was merely another terrorist plot, and the only ones who deserved punishment were the criminals.
Some believed Bruce had indeed been unprepared, but at least he had stepped forward. That already made him far better than those who had not, and he should not have been condemned so harshly.
Another group understood neither point and chose to blame both sides equally. The criminals were in the wrong, sure, but Bruce was no saint either.
And finally, some believed Bruce had deliberately let go because of old grudges, all so Ande Jin would die. Someone who took advantage of another's peril was even more detestable than the criminals.
Surely someone would wonder