[labawi]

I guess education and honest information would be too radical an approach.

Governments and leaders are concerned that people don't trust them, yet the truth is, they don't deserve to be trusted. When the system is designed to create a placated populace instead of critical thinkers, those in charge are routinely lying and blatantly misleading instead of informing, then it's no surprise people will believe in all kinds of fringe ideas.

Hiding and shunning information can be a temporary band aid, but the inevitable effect is that people will trust official sources even less.