That's the thing, people don't want to. Critical thinking for one it takes more physical energy, which is a impediment. People want to belong as it can be very difficult to thrive being excluded, so there can be an advantage to just go along with the dominate narrative. Hence why we are getting a onslaught of propaganda like this twitter post.

Teaching critical thinking skills it not a solution. People are not getting fooled, they want to believe it, it fills an emotional need.

Neo-liberal solutions to societal issues focusing on individuals has been a complete disaster. It is basically victim blaming and doesn't actually scale in many circumstances.

Eg. High house prices; Victims fault for not working harder and saving more. Neo-liberal solution: Work longer, spend way less. Outcome at scale: Economy crashes due to low spending.

I can only go back as far as Howard, so my personal take is Albo; easily. There is lying on policy which is the norm but lying on values makes him the worst. He championed himself being the kid raised by single mum in a housing commision who was going to be strong on the strong. It was all BS.

Hence in the upcoming election preference LNP/ALP last. The C-class of these companies will coordinate with these political parties to reduce the influence of employees in the workplace, so they can exploit the excess productivity for there own personal gain.

The "manipulation" is normal bookmaking. Adjust the odds to entice gamblers to wager their money so the losers of a wager payout the winners of a wager and the bookmakers make money on the spread. So if there is a few big bets for Trump, Polymarket will readjust the odds to balance the equation.

I am down to home-brand branded icecream. Used to buy the [supermarket expensive] ice cream but now they are all above the price threshold I am prepared to pay.