"American Christianity has certain aspects of religious fundamentalism, such as a literal interpretation of the bible, and many political conservatives in the US have strong ties to the Christian right. These sorts of factors may help to explain why the country seems to have developed a unique conflict between science and religion."
Religious People In The US — But Not Elsewhere In The World — Have More Negative Attitudes Towards Science – Research Digest
https://digest.bps.org.uk/2020/07/21/religious-people-in-the-us-but-not-elsewhere-in-the-world-have-more-negative-attitudes-towards-science/
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Masks for Covid-19 protection: Why the issue is still politicized in America - Vox
https://www.vox.com/2020/7/21/21331310/mask-masks-trump-covid19-rule-georgia-alabama
Regarding your questions about the US, this is worth a read, Rumbas.
"He says the virus exposed in both countries a distrust of science and data, the systematic weakening of key institutions and a lack of legitimacy of state institutions.
The questioning of accepted facts is one characteristic of populist leaders. Another is to risk alienating their bases - such as by telling people to stay at home or to wear masks in public.
A third characteristic is the sowing of division to gain power along ethnic and national lines or against those deemed elite. Such divisiveness makes cooperation elusive, internally and internationally."
In struggle against pandemic, populist leaders fare poorly
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/23/in-struggle-against-pandemic-populist-leaders-fare/
QuotePopulism in politics means pushing policies that are popular with "the people," not the elites and the experts.
My representative to the House sent out a long diatribe about how it is a mistake to trust experts, couched as a sort of general rule, not limited to Covid.
I find this so weird because I'm sure when a new bridge gets built, as he's driving over it, he doesn't think, "I sure hope this bridge was designed by an economist who agrees with my view of free markets instead of some stupid structural engineering expert." I'm sure when he needs surgery, he doesn't ask an economist who agrees with him to do the surgery.
It's a very particular definition of expert that morphs depending on the likes and dislikes of the populist.
>"I sure hope this bridge was designed by an economist who agrees with my view of free markets instead of some stupid structural engineering expert."
Love it. I'm going to borrow this.
"The interdisciplinary study of this phenomenon has made one thing clear: The failure of various groups to acknowledge the truth about, say, climate change, is not explained by a lack of information about the scientific consensus on the subject.
Instead, what strongly predicts denial of expertise on many controversial topics is simply one's political persuasion."
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coronavirus-responses-highlight-how-humans-have-evolved-to-dismiss-facts-that-dont-fit-their-worldview/