I disagree. The public is not "generally" uninformed. They are Specifically, Totally, and Abysmally uninformed, mentally unformed, and despite "universal literacy," dumbed-down and ignorant of our own history and of their rights and obligations as citizens.
"Basically conservative" probably means that as long as their TV works, the trailer isn't too hot or too cold, and McDonald's is open they will vote, (i.e., if they bother to vote) for whomsoever promises to keep things that way.
The abolition of poll taxes, property requirements, literacy requirements, and now even citizenship requirements in many jurisdictions means we increasingly live under the tyranny of the ignorant and illegal. All "democracies" wind down from that moment when the elected discover they can stay in power by writing checks to their friends and supporters on the public treasury. The "democracy" lasts until the treasury is empty and the supporters of one party or faction take up arms to take away the goods and treasure of another party.
That point is getting closer.
"Socialism is precisely the religion that must overwhelm Christianity. … In the new order, Socialism will triumph by first capturing the culture via infiltration of schools, universities, churches and the media by transforming the consciousness of society." Antonio Gramsci - Marxist - teacher of Saul Alinsky, teacher of Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton