I am trying to get my sense of humor back. I can only stay angry so long---- Then I have to adjust.
I think many people are just plain aloof.
I think many people are just plain emotionally immature
I think many people are just plain spiritually bankrupt
I think many people are just plain dumb
But I think most folks are not politically curious.
Thats the nub. They vote by feel or by superstitition or prejudice. Sometimes judgement is inherited prepackaged from others.
Its really hard to nail it down to just one thing for everybody. If you want to use madness to explain it, you would have to find a solid norm. (and not that guy on Cheers) of sanity. Way too many variables for that. A large part of insanity is "Honesty" relative. An honest man can spot a lie.
So spotting the lies in a candidate, can rely on our own honesty.
A man who relies on more faith than science, may believe his own bullshit. And as far as he is concerned it IS Truth. If you can find a society of others who believe the same "Truth" no matter how ungrounded: all the better to perpetuate that "Truth". This goes for politics, religion, sports, groupies and fan clubs. This must be some herding instinct.