[koheripbal]

Think of Democracy as a system that embodies the wishes & will of the average voter (not the average citizen).

Now imagine that you invented a system that would get tens of millions more people emotionally engaged to vote, but they happened to also be the least educated, least nuanced, least mature voters - people who seldom voted before.

Then imagine your surprise when intelligent debate disappears, and politics devolves into reality television.

That is what we've done.

Imagine if we allowed the average person dictact Climate Change policy, rather than the scientists? ...oh wait, we've done that as well...

[bzb3]

Since the effects of regulations put in place around climate change are enjoyed/suffered by all citizens, and not only scientists, it's appropriate that everybody gets to dictate what those regulations are.

[koheripbal]

The problem is when the masses completely disregard what the scientists recommend.

It's like having a random group of people do your heart surgery.

Expert opinions matter - more. ...and we need a mechanism to ensure that specialists in a field have more say than the uneducated rabble.