You are correct, jts, I am guilty of your opinion on that:) I am used to the lead up to a link in an OP being a bit clearer, as I do nof open all links. Sorry about that.

I suspect one may question "what qualifies one as an expert?" Also, who and what are "pulling their strings" This seems fair to me.

I have attended many meetings where "local expertise" is ignored versus that of a with professional qualifications. I have also seen the views of "professionals used or skewed to market an initiative. Often professionals promote personal causes far beyond their professional information. We see itvall the time in criminal trials, where professionals are purchased tobpromote a cause.
Unfortunately, non professionals often do not have the know-how, nor resources, to negate this, and often use whatever power within their grasp to counter.

I recall a meeting where the local observations of fishermen was ignored in faviour of scientists who never left the labratory. Unfortunately, though the fishermen were eventually proven right, they could not present their observations in a manner scientists could fit in their models to access. Traditional first nations knowledge falls into this category- but, those in power do reach out to include it, where tgey arecrequired by law to reach out.