They're weak-minded children who can't think for themselves, scared of the world and scared of the future and scared of death and scared of themselves. They think they need a Big Daddy with a Really Big Stick to tell them what to do, even if it makes hash of their brains and hell of their children's lives. So they make great targets for any power-hungry asshole who promises to do their thinking for them.

Pretty pathetic, when you get right down to it.