"...the question is where do the majority position themselves and why?"
Oh boy. Besty hit on one of my basic rationalist's rules of thumb right there. From taping dry wall to using air guns for finish nailing or understanding evolution - do not fuck with the boys and girls who do this every day. When someone comes along with an idea that works, the majority in that field know it's right and start to use it. Otherwise they die out.
Where does the preponderance of expert opinion lie? Never, ever, ignore that question.
That's why, when you got something like 500 scientists signing the UN global climate change paper a couple of years ago, that means a lot to me.
Let me illustrate. You and a crew of three can trim out a house in a week the old fashion way, with a miter box, finish hammers and nail sets, or two carpenters can do it in a day with a finish chop saw and a finish air nail gun. Guess who gets the job? Guess what method all the experts end up using?
If the evidence doesn't support a human element in global climate change, you'll see the experts headed that way real soon. So far, that isn't happening. Just the opposite. I agree that politics applies its own pressure - but not for too long when the evidence is clear.
S4