I think it's just that people don't really have deep-set beliefs on these topics. There are fashions with ideas, just like there are fashions with clothes. Sure, you have people who resolutely refuse to change their tie width according to the greater whims of society, but plenty of people shrug and go along with the changes. More importantly, that resolute tie traditionalist will adjust his fashion in other areas accordingly. So, even if he refuses to change his thoughts on ties, he'll still change his thoughts on, say, the role of government in society.

I don't think it's conscious, either; I doubt that people are sitting down and saying, "Oh man, my ties are too wide. It's obvious that narrow ties are more fashionable, and I'd better change my ties if I want to fit in." It's more likely that when they buy more ties, those ties happen to be narrow, (they're on the displays, it's what their boss wears, etc) and they wear those new ties exclusively while the old ties just kinda languish in That Part of the closet.

Same thing with politics. I kinda care, but honestly, my beliefs aren't that deep. Hilariously, my beliefs have gotten more apathetic as I've gotten older and figured out that I know pretty much nothing about anything. Okay, welp, if I'm guaranteed to be wrong, why should I have an opinion at all about any of this stuff? It's better for me to just kinda sneer at strong opinions of all types and just think whatever everyone else thinks. If everyone else ends up being racist, welp, that's just the way it goes.