We Are Watching a Scientific Superpower Destroy Itself

Conservatives also saw what happened when you pumped all that money into education and free thinking in the country ... that entire culture of education, open thinking and knowledge gave birth to the Hippie 60s Flower Child movement ... it also led to modern Environmentalism, Equal Rights, Women's Rights, Indigenous Rights, Minority Rights and more Democratic Movements and even Socialist ideas.

The drug culture at the time may have been an influence as well ... but it wouldn't have led in the direction it did if it weren't for the universities and education institutions that were such as a strong part of the US culture at the time.

I think our wealthy overlords are betting on building a world that can be managed and controlled using AI and robot tech for the future to come in the next ten to 20 years ... a world where billions of extra people won't be needed, no matter what they intellectual contributions could be.

You don't need science if your business is fraud, graft and conspiracy theories. In fact you need to keep your citizens as far away from any sort of critical thinking practice. Throttle the education sector and reduce access to healthcare. Give everyone a phone and a social media account where all of their preconceived notions are continually reinforced. Then sit back and watch all the educated people leave in droves as your society devolves into a robber baron mafia state.