People are more easily moved to fear than to hope.

People are willing to believe that life is a zero-sum game and it is impossible for everybody to get enough stuff. As long as the people who go short aren't them or theirs they will accept a system that is monstrously unjust.

People are easily flattered and like to be told that 'our party is the party of Common Sense' which will follow their knee-jerk reactions to situations.

People often vote out of sheer habit and don't like to have to make complicated decisions.

To summarise: people are a problem.