As I Have Long Pointed Out

5 Replies to “As I Have Long Pointed Out”

1. Well, at least they got it right on climate change, eh?

2. Policy Experts (Tm): Oh yeah, sure, they missed the mark on Brexit but it least the got it right on the U.S. presidential election, eh?

3. The noted American physicist Dr Richard Feynman once famously stated:
   “Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts.”
   He had another good line that is just as appropriate for so-called “political scientists” as it is for the regular variety of scientists:
   “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool.”

4. The old saw that “there is no such thing as a stupid Question” may have another description.
   If you have a stupid question, ask it and if it’s found to be stupid…You will have one less Stupid question to carry around.

5. The fundamental flaw of “experts” from foreign affairs to global warming lies in the attempt to assign linear behaviour to non-linear systems often on the basis of a single input. It’s a fool’s errand, always was and always will be. The other unmentioned issue in the article is the willingness of the media to describe as an “expert” anyone with a particularly high profile, loud mouth i.e. “activists” of all stripes, or academic portfolio regardless of track record. I will defer to a qualified plumber in matters of renovating my house. I will not defer to a vapid buffoon like David Suzuki in matters of anything.