From Robert S. Walker
In your Editorial you blame only the politicians and experts for the problem
and conclude that all they have to do is provide the public with information and
then magically everything will be fine. Sadly, this approach has a number of
shortcomings. It only works if people are well educated, sensible and reasonably
intelligent. European league tables show that the English are ranked as the
third least intelligent and knowledgeable people in Europe—so there is
little comfort to be found there.
We also have a media which is dumbed down and sensationalist, in particular
the press, and politically motivated. The public’s hysterical overreaction to
genetically modified food and the wholesale panic over the petrol blockade also
shows that a large percentage of the population is unwilling or unable to take
on board complicated issues.
They want someone to blame, and as long as they can find someone—papers
like the Daily Mail, The Sun and The Daily Telegraph
will always point out suitable targets—they do not have to think for
themselves, make difficult decisions, or take any blame. In countries such as
Sweden or Switzerland, your approach would indeed be viable, but then a problem
such as vCJD or BSE would never have arisen in the first place.
I speak not as an elitist but as member of the public who is interested in
science and sees everyday evidence of the stupidity of a large part of the
populace.
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Telford, Shropshire
