3. The instant-gratification that comes from endorphin-mining media leads to an appetite for big, quick solutions to their specific problems. So "person in charge who fixes things quickly" becomes more appealing than "deliberative process through elected institutions."

2. Mainstream culture is now formed online by cross-pressure from subcultures -- the right has a big online one where the left doesn't in the same way (our "subculture" generally is happy to get their information from traditional sources).