Comment by mmooss

If the solutions are so simple, what are they? Yes, incentives are distorted, but what system - that does not rely on everyone being on a higher plane - would have better incentives?

By your definition, every human endeavor is dismal and always has been - all are corrupted and flawed to some degree. Is there evidence that current science is more dismal than others or than before? You can look at any day in history and see people saying the same things about how it's so dismal and not like the good old days.

> No wonder the general public distrusts "the intelectual elite", we deserved it.

The general public has no idea about scientific publishing, publish or perish, or the distorted incentives it creates. Science has delivered at an incredible level for centuries, arguably more than any other human enterprise. Covid-19 vaccines were available in record time - it wasn't the science that caused it to go somewhat off the rails.