Global warming and the scientific industrial complex

Global warming and the scientific industrial complex

Much has been said and written about the USA’s military industrial complex.

But the article by Eisenhower had two parts, with part two being about the scientific industrial complex. He wrote it as he exited from Presidential service to his country, the USA.

I think many people think of scientists as smarter and usually better educated than the average citizen. If you buy that argument, fine. I buy it. But these people have their own families and these scientists have their own careers that usually depend on some kind of sponsorship, like funding for all the good they do our societies. And generally speaking these “scientists” do provide benefits for most societies, too.  But again, they need funding in order to have a career.

Hence the usual conflict of interest becomes apparent.

In history (depending on the period you choose), many scientists had to seek financial support through sponsors, usually individuals at one time, like often rich and well off monarchy types. Even Galileo had this problem, too.

And the problem still exists today, though the financial sources have often become politicians with access and often control of the public treasuries of the various societies and governments they come from. Of course public treasuries come from tax payers.

So all too often we now get what we pay for, like even expensive computer models (both analog and discrete)  that forecast whatever the politician sponsors want to hear for their own reasons. To hear politician types say the “science is settled” are so obvious to a common person like me.

What a shame since science can be our friend if somehow we can avoid the usual conflicts of interest.  During WWII it was called operational analysis, so there still are good solutions available to follow, if we the people choose.