I've been thinking this exact same thing too. But I think it is also a survival instinct. We don't just believe anyone, we believe those who we perceive to ha

I've been thinking this exact same thing too. But I think it is also a survival instinct. We don't just believe anyone, we believe those who we perceive to have more power, be it a violent mob demonstration, or someone we see on TV a lot. Those in power are well aware of this. You will notice that all the propaganda on TV is designed to make people believe that "everyone believes what I believe, I am in the majority". And when election time comes and hard facts seem to prove the propaganda wrong, they very quickly pivot to "Ok sure, but those other people don't count, they are 'uneducate', 'poor', 'evil'... they have no power"