"You are not immune to propaganda" is a phrase that doesn't hit hard enough.

It applies to you dear reader, yes you, not u/baggachipz.. YOU.

I am also not immune, I believe myself to be, constantly. My worldview is truth and I am "open to other ideas"- yet I have very obviously anchored myself to things the first time I hear of them, despite actively making steps to try to see all angles and explain away facts with alternative theories. (which is exhausting) I definitely believe what someone wants me to believe.

It's plain, it's obvious, and yet it continually happens. It's only with a decade of distance that I even realise what had happened.

And people call me "balanced" and "intelligent", theoretically I have more tools to deal with this than the majority of the population.

Yet... I am not immune to propaganda.

Sure, but lots of people are way more susceptible. Self-reflection is important here. The ability to question one's state and beliefs is the only tool to combat propaganda. Most people don't seem to do that; they parrot party lines and stay glued to their "news" networks.

Because for the most part, it works, and it’s way easier.

Until someone takes the car off a cliff, of course, but that almost never happens.

Which beliefs have you questioned lately?