Deregulation means the quest for the lowest possible common denominator. Liberal economics and orthodox politics produce a very dysfunctional voter. There are, as I kept saying on that panel, more of us than there are of them. Sturgeon the next. Horses are said to fear people, because they believe we are bigger than them.
Readers seem to have much the same impression of academics and critics.
I write for a community of readers. I have been fortunate enough to have been published in France, for instance, more or less since I was published in England. My books have been best-sellers in Japan and in Poland. I find that all these readers have much in common. I am very fortunate in my readership.