I think where we find ourselves now has two main components (re the cult/the big lie)
The first is the skillful use of propaganda by the right wing - because they have no heart, and no soul - for them the end justifies the means, and their desired end is limitless power (fed by money/greed). The only "truth" to them is information that leads to their desired outcome. They are not patriotic, they are not religious - they are totally self serving hypocrites - and this also encompasses most corporations, most bureaucracy. They've created a super effective right wing noise machine that nabs a good bit of our country - and they are vulnerable to it for a variety of reasons.
The second is how social networking has played into this - providing platforms for all to peddle whatever they wish to peddle. Like all technology, it can be used for good, or for bad. But what it has uncovered is how insecure we are as a species - the need for "influencers", the need for "followers" - and our culture's general susceptibility to being fooled by snake oil (my mantra has always been "if it sounds too good to be true, it is"
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And so we have a lot of people that don't want to learn, don't want their feelings hurt, or their misconceptions challenged. They are intimidated by science, by education, by anything that allows their grievances to be triggered.
Given both of these, we really are in quite a pickle - with science so necessary to deal with a pandemic, with climate change - with big things. I don't think we are set up any longer to actually deal with big things.
= new reply since forum marked as read
a lot easier by picking up a few more seats in both Houses. 
