On the separation of Science and State

Science to scientists, politics to politicians. Did I just say that? The politicians are the ones who give the funding out. But, after they give the funding, if out of prejudice decide to disregard the science, it was a waste of money, hurting the credibility of the scientists involved, and tainting the search for knowledge.

First, the Bush administration decided they didn't agree with the results scientific advisory committee chosen to study global warming. So they dismantled the group, and created a new one, where they asked each individual who they had voted for in the past election. The JASON committee almost went through something similar. Rumsfeld tried to stack the deck.

If you come to the science with preconceived ideas and are not willing to give them up, then you aren't trying to find the truth. Many times, most of the times, research gives you results opposite to what you expected, and we like it like that. You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!

Personally I have talked to many scientists, and how they have felt that in the past few years this kind of pressures have dramatically increased, in particular whenever the findings are against fossil fuels and creationism.

Finally, the AIP, the most important physics society in the world, has spoken. And it is sad and scary.