[Fedora]

> I have come to the conclusion that scientists have to argue so that they can continue to be funded to "prove" their (contrarian) theory.

LOL! I have come to a similar conclusion :) My observation is that scientists and other scholars working on their Ph.D. are under constant peer pressure to propose a "new" theory to justify their dissertation, which cultivates a contrarian attitude. Once they actually get their Ph.D. this attitude carries over into their work, where the funding issue reinforces it.

[billl]

same reason public school children are subjected to new curriculum after new curriculum.
new math, whole language, gender equity, ...
you cannot get your doctorate in education without one.
luckily for them since the average parent only has a 5-8 year life in any zone (2 kids, 2-3 years apart) the educators can re-cycle the usual suspects
back to phonics, math manipulates, character education ...
and zig-zag along