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i think that the disconnect between the scientific community and the general public is at the same time problematic and not problematic at all.
in cases where the science of something directly affects us and legislation - eg vaccination/ charged issues like stem cell research - then the public's apathy and ignorance about science is problematic because
 - we could make the wrong decisions in our ignorance
- we are vulnerable and gullible: anyone who can talk well can sway the argument to his side, by presenting the facts any way he choose
 
But in other cases, there is more to life, and people just could care less. a prime example: Harvard U has just started a class called the science of cooking, where they are doing all sorts of useless things. I say useless because trying to figure out the physics of why chocolate fondue falls in a particular pattern, or the chemistry behind what egg and flour mixed together looks like is pretty useless. Most people just want to enjoy their food. Or the science of death: for most people, death is more a social phenomenon than a scientific one - you know, dealing with the loss of a loved one and all that. Not very many people would care about apoptosis or lack of oxygen. And that is fine too.
 
So yes - on the one hand, ignorance is bliss, on the other hand, what you don't know could very well kill you.....