Ideally we would debate openly and ideas would stand/fall on their merits alone. However, this takes near herculean mental efforts on the parts of all involved

Ideally we would debate openly and ideas would stand/fall on their merits alone. However, this takes near herculean mental efforts on the parts of all involved to overcome their base, political instincts. And unfortunately you lose politically if you engage with dramatically unpopular ideas in any way: http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/04/in-the-latest-american-journal-of-economics-and-sociology-arthur-diamond-presents-a-very-disturbing-resultpolywater-one-of.html http://www.overcomingbias.com/2009/04/in-the-latest-american...