It's interesting how the roles have changed but groupthink remains the same forever. Galileo was persecuted by the religious groupthink of the Inquisition for practicing science. Now the Environmental Inquisition, a Gaia religion posing as science, is again persecuting an independent thinker for practicing science. What the hell IS it with human beings?
Rising to external authority status by subverting the hard work and critical thinking necessary to be a valid authority. Each individual is the highest authority. That has been subverted/replaced with external authorities. The problem is exposed quite well elsewhere. The solution involves a thinking paradigm shift that realigns the individual with his or her true nature as the highest authority.