The problem is that in many places--the United States is one--there is already a very well established mechanism in place to feed people absurdities that they at least assent to "believing".

And it's diametrically opposed to the people you just mentioned.

Since you have already granted that the Voltaire quote is appropriate, wouldn't be worrying if you observed that that if there's a mechanism in place that can make over two thirds of some group believe--or say they believe--something that has been tested in dozens and dozens of court cases and failed every time, and whose own spokespeople when talking to each other agree is bogus (I bet Carlson is going to rely more on spoken conversations from now on...)? Wouldn't one, mindful of Voltaire, be concerned that those people could be induced to commit atrocities? Might it be not completely unreasonable to think that if that machine gets turned and pointed at you, you might literally die?

This doesn't excuse all of the excesses on the side you aim at, but it explains some of them. Yes, there are more than a few lies, and way more instances of extremely heavily motivated reasoning. But it's not a unipolar thing.

Do you know, for instance, how heavily affected you are by this machine? Do you know the relative range and towing capacity of the Ford F-150 and the Rivian R1T (2023 model I guess--only fair if you compare the same year), and if your characterization was based in anything did you forget to mention, say, the temperature? Do you know the relative frequency of car fires for cars with gasoline engines vs. batteries only? Do you know which party in which state is trying to pass a law that makes you have to register with the government in order to criticize them (even more limiting than the completely-hypothesized score you post)--a bill so egregious that the architect of the modern "win at all costs" strategy on their own side came out decrying it?

The quote's on target. But if (some of) the other side is already in the frying-pan, have you checked really carefully to be sure you're not already in the fire?