The Academic-Government Complex Behind Environmentalism

question man-made global warming.
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The Academic-Government Complex Behind Environmentalism

by Lewis Loflin

What does Al Gore say about the 'science' behind global warming? "As it happens, the idea of social justice is inextricably linked in the Scriptures with ecology." See Al Gore, Earth in the Balance, and the Rejection of Reason

These words from Mr. Gore puts the real agenda of political environmentalism in clear perspective. Here is a man of zero scientific credentials leading a movement that has nothing to do with science, rejects the scientific method, and leads what has become a de-facto religious crusade that is close to becoming the national religion of the United States.

But for many "Green" has become the buzz word for government money. The site www.greenmomentum.com reports that $85 million (January 15, 2010) is being given away by the US Department of Energy (DOE) to 69 scientists to develop "Green" talent. They also report an earlier "announced $187 million in grants that would help employ 500 skilled researchers and engineers in the advanced vehicle industry." It's a jobs program for scientists. Government money is big business in the government-science-academic complex as President Obama seeks to spend $85 billion over the next five years. President Obama claims the government employs over 200,000 scientists everywhere from universities to national labs.

Here in Virginia the Virginia Tobacco Commission has/will divert $100 million that was slated for job training and healthcare to so-called "energy research" and other "Green" initiatives. The reality is whole legions of well paid scientists have spent entire careers being employed by the taxpayers and to pretend politics doesn't play into this would be absurd.

The question is, with billions in grants and trillions in economic/environmental legislation dependant on some of this research, does this undermine the scientific method and objectivity? This goes far beyond just political pork in its ramifications.

The John William Pope Center notes in their article The Academic-Governmental Complex that government funding of research tends to "distort scientific priorities" and to quote,

Federal funding can actually pervert the direction and outcome of scientific research. Federal funding agents are careful not to make awards that stray from existing research paths...in some cases they want to see successful results even before making the grant. That is destructive of genuine research, in which the outcome isn't known when the scientist starts out...

...in 1930 the entire research budget of all American universities totaled $51 million, federal grants represented 10 percent of the total. In 2008, federal funds represent about 60 percent out of a total of $51.9 billion.

The entire article can be read at www.popecenter.org. With funding often tied to outcome, where does an individual scientist draw the line between scientific facts and self-interest? Worse yet those not displaying "Green correctness" are certain to be denied any funding under such a politicized system. This is further compounded by the radical leftist' political culture that dominates major American universities.

The critical question becomes does massive government funding determine the outcomes and results of scientific research? The answer is a certainly yes. With so much public policy riding on this, it's prudent and vital to examine all aspects of this issue.

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