Seems like this could also be explained by short memories. Most westerners, me included, have never lived through true tyranny, we don't know the signs and probably are just too comfortable coasting along, thinking what we have now won't suddenly disappear [1].
We can read history, but it's nothing compared to actually living through it. And I think most American voters don't know their history, and don't bother to inform themselves either, which makes things much worse.
A large part of the population struggles to even entertain a hypothetical scenario. I’m active in several agricultural forums, and it’s clear that many participants lack fundamental knowledge across the board. They’re generally incapable of engaging in meaningful discussion. Almost every comment they post seems aimed at shutting down the conversation rather than continuing it. There is no curiosity. The world is already way too complex.
I think that's a function of the internet combined with a new flavor of individual exceptionalism. It is shockingly easy to engage only in echo chambers, even without knowing it. You're just on a site for people with similar interests, nevermind that those people all agree with you entirely.
Combine that with the lessons kids are learning that they are legitimately unique and special, and anyone who makes them feel bad is just wrong, and here we are.
Or maybe I'm just the old man shouting at clouds now. Who knows.
The “unique and special” kids are mostly Americans, I think. At least I don’t recognize that parenting style anywhere around me.
I really think the world is too complex for most people and they outsource their critical thinking to the group they chose to join or even were born into.
I don’t think it’s a modern problem. Religion formed enormous safe spaces for incurious people before they ran into new peers via the internet.
There's a whole Radiolab or this American life episode on this.
Basically, young people haven't lived through anything and are very willing to give up democracy.