You did well to realise it at any point. I think most never will.
No matter how clearly I could explain it to someone, they would only believe it when they think about it and realise it themselves.
I was a bit late to the party too, about 5 years ago I sat down and thought "You know, my current ideas of why everything is broken CLEARLY don't explain half of the worst stuff that happens with government over-watch" and before I knew it I realised most of it was a curated mess of lies, censorship or corporate conspiracies.
Some examples from wikipedia. I can personally vouch for the following examples basic correctness compared to lies the TV says.
It tickles me that folks go looking for/inventing self serving, absurd and grandiose conspiracy theories, when all the real dirty dealing is predictable and there to be found. With plenty real evidence too.
Ironically, living in a country with strong and independent public broadcasting, significantly more people trust it than the private alternative. And it's at least somewhat left, considering how often right-wingers "criticize" it.