What kind of man would put a known criminal in charge of a major branch of government? Apart from, say, the average voter. - Terry Pratchett

Do you think it's possible for an entire nation to be insane?

Humans! They lived in a world where the grass continued to be green and the sun rose every day and flowers regularly turned into fruit, and what impressed them? Weeping statues. And wine made out of water! A mere quantum-mechanistic tunnel effect, that'd happen anyway if you were prepared to wait zillions of years. As if the turning of sunlight into wine, by means of vines and grapes and time and enzymes, wasn't a thousand times more impressive and happened all the time...

Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.