Gullibility and ideology in America
By following the gap between the news and talking points dominating current political discourse, it’s clear that America is living through a crisis of gullibility.
This may be attributed to an alarming lack of skepticism and inquisitiveness, brought on by societal discourse being replaced by one-sided smartphone-driven news feeds, particularly among Gen Z, progressive activists, and the aging ranks of the Democratic Party.
This phenomenon is not merely anecdotal; new studies link populist attitudes with increased gullibility, regardless of education or socioeconomic status. The result? A fertile ground for radical ideas and dangerous policies that echo failed experiments of the past.
We are witnessing a surge in support for radical politicians — figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Zohran Mamdani, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Presley, Jasmine Crockett, and Summer Lee — whose policies often lack the historical context or lived memory to appreciate why similar experiments failed in previous eras. The policies espoused often ignore the lessons of the Cold War, the devastating “crack explosion,” and Clinton-era policy failures leading to a deadly wave of Islamist terror from the late 1990s through 9/11.
Rather than encouraging healthy debate and intellectual rigor, segments of the American public embrace these ideas without scrutiny — sometimes even dismissing valid criticism as conspiracy or bad faith.
This blind allegiance to radical policies has not just shifted public opinion; it has had measurable, often tragic results. Most notably, progressive prosecutors like Philadelphia’s own Larry Krasner, backed by funding from George Soros-linked organizations — have presided over a sharp rise in homicides and violent crime throughout the last decade. Cities with these prosecutors saw homicide rates spike dramatically, with the largest single-year increase in American history in 2020, followed by sustained high murder rates. In these cities, the victims are mostly minorities, and the promises of reform have proven illusory.
Meanwhile, the same funding groups have been linked to a surge in campus antisemitism, riots, and unlawful protests. Organizations like the Tides Foundation and Tides Center, backed by Soros and other progressive donors, have helped bankroll numerous activist groups involved in anti-Israel campus activity and destructive protests such as those targeting energy infrastructure projects. Congressional investigations have revealed that the Tides Foundation acts as a “dark money” conduit, hiding the identity of donors supporting radical and sometimes illegal activities.
Further scrutiny has exposed USAID as a partner funneling millions to the Tides Center, with allegations that these funds supported unlawful activism and possibly even a large-scale money laundering scheme. Millions that were earmarked for development instead went to groups engaged in trespassing, vandalism, and organized civil unrest, including the infamous Dakota Access Pipeline protests.
As Americans, especially younger generations, lose the ability or inclination to critically interrogate ideas and sources, they become more susceptible to manipulative algorithms, echo chambers, and propaganda. Gen Z is particularly vulnerable, with exposure to online misinformation and conspiracy theories at unprecedented levels.
This erosion of critical thinking and blind loyalty not only promotes failed policies but also emboldens antisemitic movements and possible criminal conspiracies, threatening the very fabric of civil society.
Americans must confront this moment with renewed skepticism and intellectual curiosity—regardless of political affiliation. The price of gullibility is too high to pay: rising crime, fading democratic norms, and the growing acceptance of extremist ideologies that threaten us all.
Based in Philadelphia, A. Benjamin Mannes is a consultant and subject matter expert in security and criminal justice reform based on his own experiences on both sides of the criminal justice system. He is a corporate compliance executive who has served as a federal and municipal law enforcement officer, and as the former Director, Office of Investigations with the American Board of Internal Medicine. @PublicSafetySME
Gullibility is the natural outgrowth of a failed educational system. Instead of providing the means for critical thinking and a moral framework in which to view society, the educational system has produced a crop of lazy-minded, selfish and self-absorbed people. The answer these folk have to any question, issue or conundrum is to “Google: it. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that Google and all the other information sites (including AI driven sites) are providing information filtered through their own built-in biases. I don’t believe everyone is dumb however, some recognize gullibility as a ready-made tool for the imposition of authoritarian rule. For example, I read recently of a U.S. Senator who believes America’s foundational documents are “troublesome.” He is of the opinion that rights are not granted to each by the Creator or that they are inalienable, in fact, he seems to be of the opinion that rights are granted by government and executed through laws that can be alienated. The very essence of a totalitarian government. The scary thing is that his constituents don’t appear troubled by this. Another danger of gullibility.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” – Declaration of Independence
Guns aren’t for hunting. They are specifically useful tools for your protection from tyrants – especially tyrannical governments. And, it is a sad thing people in the United States of America (including a Senator of Virginia even!) are confused about the entire idea of separation of Church and State. Good grief. In God we trust. They can take away your plastic bags; and, then if you don’t vote them out you get what you deserve. But, never give away your guns because these people have a desire deep in their hearts to trample all over you if they get the chance. Mask up, and stay inside for two weeks! Below is the story you referenced.
“Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) this week warned the American people that a Trump nominee for a State Department position was an extremist, cut from the same cloth as the Iranian mullahs and religious extremists. ‘The notion that rights don’t come from laws and don’t come from the government, but come from the Creator — that’s what the Iranian government believes,” he said. “It’s a theocratic regime that bases its rule on Shia (sic) law and targets Sunnis, Bahá’ís, Jews, Christians, and other religious minorities. They do it because they believe that they understand what natural rights are from their Creator. So, the statement that our rights do not come from our laws or our governments is extremely troubling.’ In fact, Kaine’s view did exist at the founding — and it was rejected. Alexander Hamilton wrote that ‘The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the Divinity itself, and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.’ Although the Framers were clear, Kaine seemed hopelessly confused.” – Jonathan Turley, The Hill