I wonder how much of this is people and how much of it is American Culture.

While I am not in any way discounting the force of anti-intellectualism in America, which we have all had the pleasure of watching worsen over our lifetimes, I think unfortunately it has to be people or we wouldn't see similar crashes-and-burns in other countries and cultures, including ones we didn't colonize.

Either way, reading about a libertopia sinking into the sea was entertaining.

It's very true.