This is why the GOP has fought to destroy the public education system for decades: It's way easier to manipulate poorly educated people to vote against their own interests compared to well educated people who are more likely to have learned critical thinking.
Because honesty and integrity matter for society. We're trying to create a better world, not replace the Republicans with Democrats who behave just as badly but have a different name.
They're easy to manipulate if you play off their basic tribal fears and religious bigotry. The Democrats are far from a perfect party but they at the very least aren't openly bigots.