Not quite so clear-cut, at least according to Noam Chomsky and to Raphael Ezekiel. Chomsky contends that these beliefs are often extremely shallow and often evaporate when met with reasonable ones --- I imagine the social and intellectual isolation in America from these issues is what makes up a great deal of the persistence of crazy ideas. Raphael Ezekiel confirmed this when he (a Jew) visited with Nazi and KKK members (written up in his book *The Racist Mind*) --- he said that once away from the group, many of the members would start to break down and treat him like a human being, among other signs of wavering commitment to their racist ideas.
Of course, it's not just a matter of handing the crazies a pamphlet, it's not "pure reason" alone that will save the world --- it's recognizing that the crazies are often not so crazy, have a rational (if mistaken) basis for their beliefs, that social isolation and the safety and support of a group of like-mindeds often make it difficult to penetrate to allow engagement with other ideas. Alexander Cockburn has made important points in this respect, I think.
Imagine, Doug, if I somehow turned my investments into 50 billion bucks. Aside from the fast cars and jet airplanes, I'd buy TV stations and run them at a loss until the end of the money. Imagine if you and Chomsky, Michael Perelman, etc., etc., etc., etc., had a well-paying job that provided expressive outlet of reasonable left-wing politics and analysis to millions of people through television. I'm convinced that the crazy ideas would quickly evaporate in the vast majority of people, a few die-hards aside. We'd have a revolution in a matter of months!
I've been reading (on and off) my assigned second chapter of Butler, on Nietzsche and Freud. I think Butler's end is laudable, though I think she is guilty of grave over-reaching. More on her for later, though.
Bill