I don't disagree with you, But I think it's even more primal than that. As if there were a phenomenon you might call "ochlophrenia", where basically being in a large crowd of people directly inhibits one's ability think or act rationally, and the effect is cumulative over time.
I honestly believe there is a correlation between population density and political insanity. It just seems to me that the more people per square mile, the more batshit crazy they are.
They signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848).
They signed the Treaty of Mesilla (1854).
They sent some token troops into the Philippines during World War II (after some arm-twisting).