> And it's "an almost North Korean degree of jingoistic .. nationalism"? It can't be that they made up their own minds?

In the fifth grade, I was sent home as punishment for not saying the "Pledge of Allegiance" in public school.

It's always been about brainwashing. Always has.

> You've just illustrated why so many people dislike "the elites". The public are adults. They decide what's in their interests and what isn't, even if it isn't what you think it should be.

I've seen what an adult is. "You've been alive for 18 years". That's it. No knowledge checks. No requirement of anything, really.

And your response cements this pervasive idea that "My ignorant opinion is worth just as much as your well studied scientific opinion". That's what our society is facing right now, on every public forum.