== I wrote this a long, long, long time ago... == 

 I wrote this after 4 tedious months of discussing the MHP on Wikipedia. None of the people I was arguing with had mentioned to me that the only thing that mattered was the reliably published sources. Armed with this knowledge, I have revised my estimate. Maybe 10% of the current argument fits within Wikipedia policy, not the 5% I originally estimated. Not a single other word requires change. 

  
 ===Conventional Wisdom=== 

 I've been re-reading some past postings. According to Rick, this article has been reviewed on 2 occasions as a 'Featured Article', and that much of what I find inessential actually was a (by)-product of those reviews. Rick is proud of 'shepherding' this article through at least one of those reviews. 

 So, in some ways, I seem to be arguing against Conventional Wisdom. But I don't feel that way. I have a few college courses on this topic, over 30 years ago, and a lifetime of being a data analyst. My viewpoint is, 'There is no possible way I am wrong about this'. To me, this whole discussion has as much to contribute as a discussion of whether the sun will rise in the east tomorrow morning. 

 How does a single voice effectively confront the Conventional Wisdom? This is a question not just for Wikipedia, but any societal system. In the US, a swindler set up a Ponzi scheme on Wall Street. Individual investors went to the regulatory agency numerous times, but to no avail. The guy didn't actually get caught. He turned himself in! How does a minority, but important, voice get heard? 

 Yes, I look at this entire article, excepting maybe 5% of it, as an elaborate hoax. I think everyone went along because they did not want to admit to limited knowledge of the subject matter. Everybody drank the kool-aid. And the emperor is wearing no clothes. 

 2/3 of the time I will select a goat. Therefore I should switch. Glkanter (talk)  

 original diff 

 posted on my talk page