They were thinking ahead when they stopped teaching critical thinking and logic classes years ago in schools.
If one does not understand HOW to think critically/logically or analytically, one cannot be expected to do so. And that, point for point, explains what we see in the world today. Every major issue we face is caused by a person or people who think Gandalf will appear any day now, cast a spell and solve the problem.
My favorite example was an ex-coworker who argued with me that 1+1 could equal something other than 2 depending on the situation. He now works for a Dem state pol in Penn.
I think the main reason is TEA is continuing to lie to the pollsters (and we should revise the 10 Commandments to include that exception) ... I think the RATS really WERE caught by surprise in Nov. 2010.