In this revolution, research has become central, it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.
The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present – and is gravely to be regarded.
Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.
And those last two points have been a continuing positive feedback loop for climate change. The feds pay for research which "proves" climate change which is used to drive more federal funding.
How incredibly prophetic of Ike.
For a monomaniac theory of significant anthropogenic climate change, that is.
Bump.
This isn't the fault of science or scientists. In every professional scientific community there is a vigorous debate about data, whether there is any and what it means - is there are real trend? Is it man-induced or geological in nature? Etc.
This is the fault of politicians with a mission - Al Gore, as but one prominent example - using federal funds to reward sycophants. This is not science. But yell at your politicians for this, not scientists.