I also tend to only believe things funded by those with a vested interest in that thing doing bad.

No you're right, we should take the side of the government who actively performs military drills off the coast of a mostly defenseless island of people to subjegate them. The side of a country who has countless times shown us they not only don't respect our way of living but actively support our enemies like Russia. The side of a country that if given the option would propagandize us the same way they do their citizens. Heard of Tiananmen square?

I'd rather be exploited by billionaires for my work than lied to, manipulated by, exploited by, then murdered by my government in the streets.

Nice false dichotomy.