That being the case, it sounds like the problem is the particular "experts" to which one defers. From my perspective, many people deferring to the pope (or their local preacher) causes more harm than good (e.g. opposition to issues of importance, and encouraging intolerance). I look at that and think the cached thought, "If only those people would think for themselves, they would see how ridiculous many of of the religious claims are."

If most people shouldn't actually think for themselves, what is the alternative? If we have a choice between encouraging a culture that enshrines thinking for ones self, or one that values submission to experts and leaders, but we don't get to choose who the leaders are going to be, which is preferable?

I'm more-or-less opposed to democracy, but I think it produces better outcomes than dictatorships (averaging across all the dictatorships that have existed, not just one's that happened to be fairly good).