Why do so many people believe such unbelievable things? How can anyone be persuaded that hundreds of people conspired to hide the Kenyan birth (and Muslim sympathies) of Barack Obama; that tens of thousands of scientists lie every day to prop up the liberal hoax of climate change; that the entire U.S. space program, including the moon landings, was faked to hide a Russian triumph; that childhood vaccinations cause autism; or that the Earth is flat.
We hear constantly about how deeply polarized our nation has become. I personally believe we're closer to 65%-35% on critical issues than the polarization pundits' imagined 50-50 split. But it's true that there are at least two major value clusters -- Two Cultures -- in our popular and political discourse. They explain a great deal.
Click here for Jim Kenney's handout on "The Two Cultures."