Comments on: When science becomes politicized it stops being science. http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/12/when-science-becomes-politicized-it-stops-being-science.html thoughts and opinions by author s. andrew swann Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:14:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: S Andrew Swann http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/12/when-science-becomes-politicized-it-stops-being-science.html#comment-12133 S Andrew Swann Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:57:21 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=2264#comment-12133 We're not talking about jockeying for a tenured chair here, were talking about actual scientists corrupting actual science here. Yes there's human nature, and no one likes seeing the sausage being made, but frankly that's a horribly meager excuse, both for scientists and politicians. Just because a human endeavor has upon occasion prompted base and dishonest instincts, gives no one excuse for wallowing in them. Frankly, up until now I reserved my skepticism for the politicians selling snake-oil remedies; I didn't think major players in the AGW debate were actually doing the statistical equivalent of pulling numbers out of their arse. Related tangentially to the subject of this thread: http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2009/12/peer_review.html We’re not talking about jockeying for a tenured chair here, were talking about actual scientists corrupting actual science here. Yes there’s human nature, and no one likes seeing the sausage being made, but frankly that’s a horribly meager excuse, both for scientists and politicians. Just because a human endeavor has upon occasion prompted base and dishonest instincts, gives no one excuse for wallowing in them. Frankly, up until now I reserved my skepticism for the politicians selling snake-oil remedies; I didn’t think major players in the AGW debate were actually doing the statistical equivalent of pulling numbers out of their arse.

Related tangentially to the subject of this thread: http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2009/12/peer_review.html

]]> By: Steve Buchheit http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/12/when-science-becomes-politicized-it-stops-being-science.html#comment-12120 Steve Buchheit Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:01:43 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=2264#comment-12120 Steve, are you expecting me to believe the "Shocked, shocked I am to find out gambling is going on here" line of this? Have you never experienced even second hand the struggle to obtain higher degrees (Masters and PhDs)? Or not witnessed tenure battles? Hell, even the battle of higher education types for the last smear of brie at a party can be fraught with high political tension. This is why when the whole "scientists live in ivory towers" argument comes up people who deal with them snicker. And as Aeros51 points out, it isn't exactly a new problem. Steve, are you expecting me to believe the “Shocked, shocked I am to find out gambling is going on here” line of this? Have you never experienced even second hand the struggle to obtain higher degrees (Masters and PhDs)? Or not witnessed tenure battles? Hell, even the battle of higher education types for the last smear of brie at a party can be fraught with high political tension.

This is why when the whole “scientists live in ivory towers” argument comes up people who deal with them snicker. And as Aeros51 points out, it isn’t exactly a new problem.

]]> By: michelle http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/12/when-science-becomes-politicized-it-stops-being-science.html#comment-12064 michelle Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:29:53 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=2264#comment-12064 Aero51 - You nailed it. And now we're seeing proof of what happens when Scientists accept government funding with the disclosure that NASA is also apparently manipulating data to reach a government/NWO conclusion. At least I assume NASA must be hiding something, otherwise why wouldn't they comply with the Freedom of Information Act? Aero51 – You nailed it. And now we’re seeing proof of what happens when Scientists accept government funding with the disclosure that NASA is also apparently manipulating data to reach a government/NWO conclusion. At least I assume NASA must be hiding something, otherwise why wouldn’t they comply with the Freedom of Information Act?

]]> By: aeros51 http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/12/when-science-becomes-politicized-it-stops-being-science.html#comment-12051 aeros51 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:23:55 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=2264#comment-12051 There are a lot of scientists that are angry at the corruption uncovered in the CRU leak, but the politicians and media, as a whole, do not care. Eisenhower once warned against a science establishment over-reliant on government funding; he gave that warning in the next breaths after warning against the famous military-industrial complex. It's sad that few remember it. There are a lot of scientists that are angry at the corruption uncovered in the CRU leak, but the politicians and media, as a whole, do not care. Eisenhower once warned against a science establishment over-reliant on government funding; he gave that warning in the next breaths after warning against the famous military-industrial complex. It’s sad that few remember it.

]]> By: S Andrew Swann http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/12/when-science-becomes-politicized-it-stops-being-science.html#comment-12049 S Andrew Swann Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:29:43 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=2264#comment-12049 Thing is, there's a big difference between politicians acting like politicians, and scientists acting like politicians. Thing is, there’s a big difference between politicians acting like politicians, and scientists acting like politicians.

]]> By: Steve Buchheit http://www.sandrewswann.com/blog/2009/12/when-science-becomes-politicized-it-stops-being-science.html#comment-12031 Steve Buchheit Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:06:40 +0000 http://www.sandrewswann.com/?p=2264#comment-12031 I seem to remember making the same argument when the Bush Administration asked for it's third review of the science because they weren't happy with the answers. I seem to remember making the same argument when the Bush Administration asked for it’s third review of the science because they weren’t happy with the answers.

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