Scientific Freedom
We are a long way from the medieval days when science was quashed by the church (and having scientists killed or jailed for defying dogma) and is one of the reasons for our great societies riches and power (knowledge = power). But the oppression of science is far from gone (evolution being usually the most targeted) but there is also medical and environmental research that has policy implications that's under attack not from ignorant religious people bu the government. This would not usually be a problem since government is the dumbest possible state of humanity (one person = smart, a bunch of people = mob stupid, a bunch of people + a bureaucracy = dumb and ineffective, government = dumbest and most ineffective)but when government also funds these studies there is a conflict of interest. Technically having the government pay to research stuff that has to do with the public good is a beneficial idea. the problem arises when government is an intermediary between the results (or researcher) and the public.
One solution is that this should be done privately but I don't see news agencies having the ability to cover the cost of such studies or research for their one column article they write on the result. The only solution that seems plausible is if they had a corporation for public research (like the corporation for public broadcasting in the US) that was arms length from the government. At least this way there is a layer of bureaucracy to stop policy maker form having too much influence, but it clearly isn't perfect. I can't really think of a great solution.
One solution is that this should be done privately but I don't see news agencies having the ability to cover the cost of such studies or research for their one column article they write on the result. The only solution that seems plausible is if they had a corporation for public research (like the corporation for public broadcasting in the US) that was arms length from the government. At least this way there is a layer of bureaucracy to stop policy maker form having too much influence, but it clearly isn't perfect. I can't really think of a great solution.
posted by Eddie | 8:37 PM
4 Comments:
I wouldn't say government is the dumbest state of humanity. I'd say it's "conflict of interest" embodied, if I were going to say something I'd get shouted at for.
The idea of a corporation for public research is not a bad one -- provided that it puts some much needed individual accountability to policy [good or bad].
Policymakers' jobs are to have influence. The fact that they are polically motivated is the condition of their existence. Politically motivated closed-mindedness and shortsightedness isn't quite the same as stupidity. It's just usually maladaptive.
You seem to think that governments are bad at what they do. Maybe you should consider that they do what they do -very well-. Too well to be as incompetent as some might think.
[chuckles]
Peace, order, and GOOD GOVERNMENT, what, what?
Governments are bad at what they do. The evidence is the more government does the worse the state runs! I'm not saying the people are incompetent but that the people + the bureaucracy are. Maybe I've just read too much Orwell.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6158040.stm
I know, but they have been arguing about where to put it for years mostly as a political tool for the US to vent it's frustration at France at the Iraq war. This was ready years ago, but political bickering has postponed it until now. Yes it is great they are doing it and I don;t think there is likely enough private money to do it but the politics make it take long. It is the reason why LIGO is near Mt St Helens!!
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