>We mostly have to trust experts to theorize correctly and hope for the best.
Wait wait wait.... Something is really wrong here. Are you saying you can't tell an economist they're wrong? Are you telling me that the only thing that matters is who is introduced as "respected" on CSPAN? Seriously, economics is designed to serve the finance industry. If you want to read the real stuff go get yourself some 1930s Hayek (e.g Prices and Production), drink some coffee and prepare yourself to throw stuff at the TV the next time you hear people on the TV say that the omnipotent magic interest rate fairy at the fed can fix any economic problem with the tap of a computer key or that Japan having an earthquake will be great for their economy.