I see it as people not caring about the truth as much as trying to be happy & safe. If that involves lots of accepted lies & illusions, then so be it. The mind's purpose is to assist the body in achieving darwinian goals -- knowing the truth of the world around them isn't terribly relevant. In parallel, those taking advantage of this situation aren't likely to spend much time thinking hard about it -- it works, that's all that matters. Justifying actions that bring you financial success is an art form driven over millennia of evolution & refinement.

Ha! I grew up in Springfield, VA, mid-late 90s for high school.