I didn't grow up around many Republicans at all in the 50s and 60s and the few I knew were some of the wealthiest in my tiny country town. They were all very moderate compared to most of those we see today. One could even reason with them. I became interested in science at an early age, so keeping my mind open came naturally and my university time enhanced that tremendously.
I think the big difference these days is the lack of innate (or learned) curiosity and no raw, instinctive desire for education I see in many people. If one has a healthy natural curiosity about all things along with a healthy basic education, one will ask a lot of probing questions and also naturally look at all sides of any question. Without those things, we can very easily be brainwashed by charlatans having all sorts of motives.
As you said, the information needed to make logical, well-informed decisions is out there and pretty much free on-line. However, that also means doing some very studious, boring reading and we now live in a world saturated with sensationalism, disinformation and deceit. Everyone now seems to just want to be entertained 24/7. That's the perfect setting for an economic coup by the plutocrats and I fear we're near that point now.
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