I'm not much into the whole hierarchical rule thing either (as are many who challenge that particular meme when posted). The problem is that once human groups get to a relatively large size, the organisational requirements that arise inevitably lead to differential access and control over resources, paving the way for hierarchies. They are, it seems, unavoidable unless a grouping remains relatively small and 'simple'. And imagining 'scientists' would be significantly better than 'politicians' shows to me a naive understanding of human nature and misplaced trust in supposedly 'objective' researchers.