I did that as a little kid. As a teenager, I gradually became rebellious enough to question "my alleged betters." I realized that some adults were jerks.
Even some in prestigious authoritarian positions.

An abundance of leftist indoctrination replacing common sense springs to mind.
It comes from school, fake news, all over etc., and people of low self-esteem wanting to~~baa!~~fit into the herd.
We have a most recent female Supreme Court Justice who claims she does not know what a woman is and that was met with approval.
Me dino knows what a uterus is and that males does not have those.

The Walmarts near me are filled with people who know who hurt them.
It's the people in large cities that can't tell the difference between truth and media.

+1 and a standing ovation, Dino. Four words that perfectly sum it up.

"...preposterously stupid..." is my new catch phrase.

Just after the 2008 election, I saw something that stuck with me. I won't repeat it as a quote, as I don't remember it exactly. But the gist was this person thought that the United States could survive a President Obama; he just wasn't sure it could survive a people that would elect an Obama as President.

Great point, FFA. "Government speak" is the only place where a raise is called a cut. For example, I've seen so many times when the left accused the right of cutting a program when all the right did was reduce the amount of increase from 10% to 7%. To me, that's a seven percent increase; to the left, it's a three percent cut.

the propaganda machine selects them, and propaganda is VERY powerful. We just need to learn to ignore anything that comes from government or politicians.

That is true. Kamala people are indeed idiots.

This is why it is said that democracy is not sustainable, and cultures tend to destroy themselves in 250 years. Our time has come. I dont know if Trump can do more than delay the inevatable.

I dont believe ANYTHING politicians or government says at this point. They are all hidden agenda-promoters. People who live in NY are just stupid in my view. I was born there, but havent even been there in many years, and will NEVER even fly over NY. Same with California actually. We should send migrants to NY and CA seeing as though they welcome migrants.

The false notion that we need the immigrants to work the fields and other jobs Americans don't want to do is wrong. Why should our American moochers and looters take a job and work when they are being fed by the producers? Both social security and Medicare/Medicaid are running out of money but we never hear that Welfare is.

+1
Now here is the condensed as hell short answer to "How do these idiots keep getting elected."
Idiots keep electing them.

Check your premises: Specifically "otherwise intelligent electorate".

Try this exercise: Walk thru Walmart. Look around at the other shoppers there. Every time you see a new person, remind yourself - That person can vote.

Be prepared. the results are frightening and depressing.

The answer to the "How do these idiots keep getting elected?" question is quite straightforward in Ayn Rand terms. When the number of moochers and their looter enablers exceeds the number of producers in a country with a democratically elected government, the moochers and looters vote to eat the producers like two wolves voting against one sheep.

When Demoncrats open the border, they are importing constituents to replace those whom they choose to abort, either at the beginning or the end of life.