Re: Who's to blame
"thinking rationally is associated with being an extremist, fascist"
I think you've got that last bit reversed; the "fascist" ideology means "sticking together against outsiders" (based on the symbolism of the fasces suggesting strength through unity: a single rod is easily broken, while the bundle is difficult to break):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fascism
Fascism definitely doesn't encourage rational thinking, but it does explain policemen labelling every Muslim as a terrorist.