Here, I think I need to raise a point of contention. Not necessarily disagreement, just contention.

I've only just started following you, so forgive the lateness of the comment, please.

But to the meat of the matter: I was always an intellectual to some degree, even as a child. As such, and I expect it might be similar on your side of the pond, I was marginalized. Loud voices matter. It shouldn't be like this, but it is. The loudest voice has always ruled the mob, and the quiet thinkers only get seriously recognized when everything falls down. Then they get demonized for not being loud enough.

I do not know where the answer lies on this, but I kind of suspect that the intellectuals and thinkers (not always synonymous) might do well to get a lot louder.