I think I'm starting to recognize the real issue with American politics now

[DarkerEnergy]

As a few others have said, most Americans are stupid beyond belief, and can be talked into just about anything. Shit, look at the statistics, the public doesn't know who their congressmen are, how old the Earth is, can't do basic mathematics, don't believe in evolution or climate change, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Politicians understand that in order to get elected, the public need to be told they are smarter than they really are, and that whatever choices they make are good ones that we can't question at all. This keeps the cycle going indefinitely - since the public never learns from their mistakes, and never feels a sense of shame for bad judgement.

Conservative politicians understand these things well.