WHY DO WELL EDUCATED PEOPLE BELIEVE ABSURD THINGS?

Brainwashing and a longing to 'not be in charge' anymore.

How stupid is the notion that the answer to the energy problem is invading a Middle East country and making war.

Brainwashing is a curious term, and most people think it only occurs in authoritarian or totalitarian countries like China or Soviet Russia. Brainwashing is simply a message repeating over and over again while the person is in a suggestible state of mind. For instance, watching a very dramatic television program and being in a highly emotional state of mind. Then comes the commercial. The message is implanted to a certain extent.

In our first four years of life or so we are constantly in an emotional state of mind with an inadequate or imcompletely developed intellect. Messages inculcated or repeated often are set deeply into the mind of the developing child. That's why religions and totalitarian systems like to get them young; the message is forever implanted though not inextricably implanted.

My brother(university educated) thinks that if I got a job ,his taxes would go down(come to think of it ,that a bit absurd!)

There is a difference between being educated and being intelligent.