We trust strangers all the time. For example when driving, because we expect dangerous people to be sufficiently de-incentived from driving. Or when doing groceries, because we expect companies not to poison us. Or when riding in a stranger's car, even though they could rob and/or harm.
We actually exhibit a low level of trust, given the extreme safety measures we build into our cars and the segregation of our highway corridors. 'Trusting strangers' would look like cars without airbags, and the removal of speed limits in residential areas.
We do not trust food companies not to poison us. We require an accounting of every ingredient that goes into every piece of food we eat, and companies are held accountable to that list. If you think we trust food companies, read about the reaction to Upton Sinclair's book The Jungle. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jungle)
> Or when riding in a stranger's car, even though they could rob and/or harm. Isn't that the running joke? That harm does happen, and somehow we still roll the dice and use those services.
I'm just surprised that we trust pharma companies as much as we do.
Your point has some legitimacy, but your examples are severely flawed.
Yes, and that was exactly my point. We (can) have laws and enforcement for the issue this article is about too.