It's simply a matter of scale and reference frame.
I find it amusing that very few liberals can make one cogent argument for believing that the Earth is round that does not involve recourse to authority ("they" say it's round) or photographs taken from space.
Eratosthenes reasoned from observations available to anyone the approximate size and shape the Earth in 200 BC.
Liberals aren't necessarily "smarter", they're just more deferential to authority figures, especially schoolmarms.
"photographs taken from space."
Personally, I find this pretty convincing evidence, that doesn't necessarily involve the acceptance of authority. Not that I necessarily want to defend liberals, but there are probably a million more accurate ways to convince me that they are all stupid.