What are the chances that 12 randomly selected members of the public are better at understanding biological mechanisms, judging statistical models and weighing evidence than people who have been studying these things for decades?

One group has an interest in making a living by working for multi-billion dollar corporations.

The other group is just the general public, who won't make a single penny from dedicating their lives to understanding the facts as they are presented.

The vast majority of experts in this field are not affiliated with Monsanto and don’t make a dime from it. They are the “general public”, except well informed, and have studied years to understand the relevant (complex) background to make an informed assessment. Non-experts may be dedicated but they simply don’t match years or even decades of rigorous studying on the subject.

This “all experts are in the pockets of big X corporation” is inaccurate and insulting. It’s just getting really tiring.

Yes, of course maybe all the experts are wrong, and the jury of lay people was right. But even if this unlikely case occurred here, do you really want to build legal cases and policy on such a fluke?