You are 💯 on the smarts. It began in the school systems, about at least 20 years ago. These students are now "adults". While many were impacted in the younger generations, there are equally as many who have managed to seek and learn on their own. I'm optimistic bc I see many of them on this platform and I encounter some IRL as well.

It just seems worse then it is bc the ones that promote the senseless ideas usually have louder mics and bigger platforms and followings.