The Republicans embraced Faith-Based Thinking long ago, in which people believe ANYTHING they are told, as long as it comes from an authority figure they trust, such as a politician, clergy, boss, cop, etc. That's the perfect target for a politician (or conman) whose entire authority is built on lies.

Thats why they pandered so strongly to evangelicals, who have demonstrated their predisposition to believe to their absolute core the most outlandish fairy tales and myths written by neolithic goatherders, and tailor their entire lives around them. If they'll believe that nonsense, they'll believe the idiotic math of conservative economic concepts like Trickle Down, and anything else.

And that's why Republicans have been so critical of, and hostile toward, ANY educational standards. Stupid people are easier to recruit and indoctrinate, because they lack the Critical Thinking Skills required to reject obvious propaganda, and are more receptive of an entertaining delivery over the veracity of the message.

HitlerPig even said it out loud: "I love the poorly educated." Faith-based Thinking is why.

Religion makes people believe crazy shit