Professors and researchers move up in agenda setting?

Kingdon found professors and researchers were somewhat influential in Washington agenda setting. What effect might they have when a Gallup poll shows survey respondents more confident in them than in President Obama or Congress to recommend "the right thing for reforming the U.S. healthcare system?

This also jibes with Stealth Democracy's finding that people are willing to trust government decision making to disinterested technocrats.

Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) say they are confident in doctors to recommend the right thing for reforming the U.S. healthcare system. That is significantly higher than the public confidence extended to President Barack Obama, as well as to six other entities that will be weighing in during the emerging healthcare reform debate.

via Gallup Daily: Obama Job Approval.