There's a fundamental question worth asking: why do we instinctively defer to "the experts"? Think about it differently—throughout history, blind trust in authority figures hasn't strengthened science or democracy. It's actually been the hallmark of religious dogma and authoritarian systems. Real scientific progress? It comes from questioning, testing, and healthy skepticism. True democracy thrives on informed debate, not passive acceptance. The moment we stop interrogating those we're told to trust, we've surrendered critical thinking itself. That's the distinction nobody seems to make anymore.