[binmanthrowaway]

So-called "public pressure" is often made up. It usually goes like this - a lobbying company pays journalists to run a story that X causes Y. Journalists look in their network for people willing to confirm X causes Y and that they are outraged. The story is then exaggerated and run numerous times so that people get an emotional connection with the actors and start to believe X causes Y. This is an opportunity for a politician to offer a "solution". In the end, a company gets favourable legislation, a politician gets points and media get clicks and views. But society loses.