FredL

Ron, as you frequently do. you have posed an intereesting question.

I think that one of the things that is refreshing about the American attitude (which is far from unique to Americans - Please "Heavenly Father", don't let me get bogged down in THAT discussion again) is a degree of irreverence towards "experts". This can be very healthy and encourages a degree of self reliance and an entrepenurial spirit. In regard to Bonsai, it encourages a willingness to "just-do-it", to quote the Nike advertisement. Which means that, especially in this country, there is a general willingness to shoot off one's mouth without necessarily knowing what one is talking about. Also a willingness to develop oneself as self-taught in all arenas, including Bonsai.

This is far from all good, but it does have the result that most activities that catch on in this country develop with amazing speed, because in this country people are pretty good at looking at the realities of a situation and adjusting course regerdless of what the "experts" thought at the onset. In the free market of ideas, the best ideas DO win out.

In the realm of art, I am struck by what a closed little world it is and how the people in it defend the notion of "expertise". I am not as impressed by art "expertise" as much as I should be, I guess. Something that stays in my mind is the way in which Norman Rockwell was ridiculed when I was in college and is now generallyseen as a first rate artist.

I don't have the definitive answer to your question, but, these are some thoughts that occurred to me regarding it.

Fred