They’re not intelligent enough to make a conscious decision.

Hmm, I'm not sure this is a question of intelligence... To see through (most of) the lies you don't really need a lot of intelligence... It's more like willingness to step off the beaten path. Readiness to not do as others do. Something along those lines...

Covid really was one of the most transparent scams ever perpetuated, you could see things not being quite right with a naked eye, without any deep research required whatsoever... and yet, most of the population went along with it...

They’re not intelligent enough to make a conscious decision.

Hmm, I'm not sure this is a question of intelligence... To see through (most of) the lies you don't really need a lot of intelligence... It's more like willingness to step off the beaten path. Readiness to not do as others do. Something along those lines...

Covid really was one of the most trasparent scams ever perpetuated, you could see things not being quite right with a naked eye, without any deep research required whatsoever... and yet, most of the population went along with it...