part of the electorate.

It is beyond obvious that the man does not read. Has not ever read anything beyond what was required when he was in school, and possibly never read those things in the first place. Which means he has very little knowledge or understanding of anything at all. Which, quite frankly, isn't that different from the vast majority of Americans. Most people never read a book on their own once they're done with high school or college. And the teaching of history in high school is typically abysmal, with the history teacher often known as "coach".

So keep in mind that most people are more like him than we want to acknowledge. Barely completed high school. Never read another book. Never entertained a new idea. Never willing to examine ideas of any kind.

Our education system was originally founded as a way to make docile workers for factories. And it was pretty good at doing that. Actual teaching of civics or math or science was NEVER the point. It's important to understand that. In the late 20th century it seemed as if actual teaching of subject matter was important, but it never was. It seemed that way because all of a sudden, starting in 1965, a lot more high school students started attending college. Along the way, the notion that a 4 year college degree was of overriding importance took root, to the sad detriment of vocational training that could lead to real, well-paying jobs.

I am constantly distressed by the current emphasis on a four year degree no matter what. It's beyond dumb. Many perfectly intelligent people have no business getting that kind of degree and would be vastly better off with a two year (often less) certificate program at their local junior college that leads to a job.

I had mostly good teachers, including for history, and learned a lot in my classes. I think most schools are staffed with good teachers. Do they have all the resources they need? No. Are the allowed methods of teaching too rigid? Possibly.

The point I’m getting at is that I believe that many/most people are in a willful state of ignorance. They’ve been given the tools but choose to not use them.

public school. I myself and many many others would have been much better off in life. They do it in Europe.

It's the decades-long result of repugs continual defunding of education. Ignorant people who haven't had adequate educational opportunities haven't developed critical thinking skills and thus fall for repug, wedge issue bullshit and con men like trump.

Stupid people of course also fall for trump.

Most people, though, are willfully ignorant, in my experience. They don’t care to read or expand their mind. That’s why so many people fall for con men and snake oil salesmen and why they believe in theories such as creationism, anti-vaxx propaganda, etc.

That’s why they were conned by an obvious grifter like Donald Trump.