When the first Jews fled Hitler’s Germany, they were probably considered conspiracy theorists, too.
Whoever wins the elections on the state and federal level. DeSantis runs Florida because that's who the people of Florida chose. Other states are run by very different governors because that's who their citizens chose. I've always, it's ultimately up to the voters in a democratic system. But because we put "individualism" on a pedestal and began to worship it, our nation has devolved into a roomful of spoilt, bratty and unruly children who must be managed by the "adults".
You've got it exactly backwards. The problem isn't too much individualism. The problem is we have too little individualism and too much collectivism. We have too many citizens in this country who think they know what is best for everyone else, and are entitled to force other people to comply with their desires. So, they vote for politicians who share those views and will implement those policies.
Blaming the politicians is confusing the cause with the effect. The problem isn't the politicians - it is the people who vote for them.