Do experts and democracy clash? Let's consider an example. Imagine you're a skateboarder (pretty cool, right?). Now, who do you think should design a new skate park in your town?

• The Expert: A professional who has spent years studying the physics, safety, and aesthetics of skate park design.

• The Democracy: All the local skateboarders who will be the actual users of the park.

This is the tension we are exploring. Both sides have their pros and cons, and there's no perfect answer.

We often trust experts without even realizing it. Every time you board an airplane, you're trusting a pilot's expertise and the air traffic controllers who guide the flight. It's like trusting a chef to cook your meal. They've got the expertise, and you just want a tasty dish.

Here's where it gets more complicated. How can those who make decisions on our behalf (like politicians or policy makers) ensure they are relying on the best knowledge available? And how can we as citizens contribute to this process?
 

Imagine a town deciding on a new recycling program. It's not enough for experts to come in with the best scientific solution. The people who will be doing the recycling—the citizens—also need to understand and participate in the decision.

Even with expert knowledge, there are plenty of policy controversies or failures—healthcare, environment, finance, you name it. Remember the 2008 financial crisis? A lot of experts were involved, and things still went south. These experiences can lead to distrust in decision-making and experts.