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> Digressions aside, what value is there in allowing an uninformed person to make impactful decisions on complex matters?

Yes, all of the time. My entire life is making uninformed decisions. I am not a chef - I read reviews of restaurants. I am not a mechanic, I ask my mechanic for car advice. I am not a doctor, I pay them to tell me what's wrong and what treatments to take. Seeking out expertise is a paragon of making wise choices.

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1. You are not a lawmaker.

2. Seeking out expertise is a paragon of making wise choices. Seeking out moneyed interests is not.

What would be your example of a non-moneyed interest? My doctor and mechanic are moneyed interests? Even independent researchers are moneyed interests in their own way.

If you were to pass legislation about crash safety for cars, would you not allow input from anyone who knows how cars are manufactured?

Your doctor or mechanic is not trying to lobby or otherwise influence lawmakers directly.

Obviously interested parties as well as the general public should be allowed input to the legislative process. However, input should not be solely or even primarily be sought from moneyed interests. The legislature has entire government departments at their disposal and should if need be commission their own research.

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