That is a direct reflection of the media situation in which people who have never lived here have no real clue, only the bullshit they see in the news and media.

I will never forget in the 1990's when a group of Russian military attended the leadership school where I was an instructor. We took them to a local supermarket and were shocked when they accused us of having set it up , that it could not be real. We had to drive around and show them a whole bunch to prove this was a normal thing in the United States.

Public research is very rarely funded by the government. Us Educated Scientists...why does that have to be government money? And why does the infrastructure have to be government?

This is further evidence of education by media. A lack of understanding.

[Linked Image from nodiatis.com]