From Tim Blair, the amusingly flawed history of "consensus" as reported in the NYT:

-- 1955: "Sun power still is a losing proposition in dollars and cents. But experts agree that its prospects never have looked so good."

And haven't things changed since then! Apart from the dollars and cents, of course.

-- 1956: "WEAR HAT IN COLD SCIENTISTS ADVISE."

Back in those days, scientists cared.

-- 1963: "Three General Electric scientists have suggested that there may be diamonds on the surface of the moon."

Coincidentally, 1963 was a big year for LSD research.

-- 1968: "A panel of experts in environmental science warned today that the 'unanticipated' hazards of spreading technology threatened man's existence."

Twelve years earlier scientists were telling us to wear hats when it was cold. Now they're telling us we'll all be killed because of science.