Specialization and government power

One thing that specialists do, and generalists tend to do less, is cede knowledge about certain domains to experts. When the Honda repair expert tells you it’s time for a new transmission, you accept it, albeit perhaps after getting a second opinion from another Honda or transmission expert. When this happens in the realm of law and civil rights, it’s inevitable that abuse (intentional or otherwise) will result. This is one of the trust heuristics that has soured over time (if not from the beginning) but not died.