[CmdrShep2154 (OP)]

Obsessed with building prisons and perpetuating a cycle of misery and stupidity.

https://www.themarshallproject.org/2022/02/10/rise-and-fall-of-a-prison-town-queen [nofollow]

They should aspire to intelligence. They should be inspired by science and space travel.

And the a big budget space adventure should take the place of their usual reality show for at least a month.

[Origin]

I live in rural America; I both dream and aspire for a better future.
I guess that means your hypothesis has been falsified.  Better luck next time.