In 1877, British Prime Minister Lord Salisbury offered this warning: “No lesson seems to be so deeply inculcated by the experience of life as that you never should trust experts. If you believe the doctors, nothing is wholesome: if you believe the theologians, nothing is innocent: if you believe the soldiers, nothing is safe. They all require to have their strong wine diluted by a very large admixture of insipid common sense.”

Experts have the luxury of indulging their worst fears and ignoring the effect that their policies have beyond their area of expertise. That’s why decisions are reserved for elected officials, who are expected to balance risks and costs rationally and, most of all, apply common sense and good judgment.