I mean, the GOP has done everything in its power for several decades to undermine education and clinch a near-monopoly on TV and radio media. So I think we can blame them quite a bit for how idiotic and cultish the American people have become.
It didn't work well for me in my desert climate (~12" annual precip) until I put down pavers as a walkway. Reducing the water competition and creating some runoff made all the difference. Now they grow like crazy and I don't even need to water. They do sprawl, so it's not nearly as "neat" as grass. Lawn addicts and HOA nazis will obviously not approve.