Mostly because fear and misinformation is what gets ratings for the news media. This is evident with any controversial issue. Facts don't sell nearly as well as exaggeration and outright untruth. Also, the winner-takes-all two party system doesn't help this.
That being said, I believe individualism is more prized in America than in much of the rest of the developed world. A significant portion of Americans desire a much smaller federal government than what currently exists.
'Cause this is Murika. Our media distort facts and over complicates things for those who want to be told want to think. I remember watching the news and this guy was at a pro-Obama rally when he walked up to an anti-Obama protestor. She declared Obama a Communist, and when the reporter asked why she replied "Study up buddy! The facts are there, Study up!" he repeated the question "How is Obama a Communist?" She stalled and replied once again "Because he is! STUDY UP BUDDY!" She clearly watches too much Fox news.
This goes both ways really. If she'd given a well thought out and reasonable answer, it wouldn't have been worthy of the 24 hour news overload.
