In so doing, we overlook some truly mammoth issues lumbering around the tarpits on the other side of the meadow, all having to do with the nature of expertise in our collective lives. We tend to think of experts as people who answer questions and resolve issues. Sometimes we just shut up, and stop engaging. On the other hand, we may pick an expert or group whose values and motivations we trust, and let them form our opinion, since we feel no pressing reason to doubt them. Some of us ground our ideas in the ideas of a few opinion leaders, but then venture off every now and then into someone else's territory where our thinking gets complexified and nuanced, if not thoroughly confused.
Many citizens bemoan the take-over of government by wealthy interests and corporations.
I prefer to think outside that whole unproductive box. To me all this makes eminent sense. I was involved for two years recommending preparations and social change in response to the Y2K challenge. It turned out that the problem was being handled well enough to prevent any significant disruptions at the Y2K rollover. Perhaps those of us who thought it was a major threat were wrong.