Comments on: If Scientific fact contradicts the Republican talking points, they will silence science. https://www.habitablezone.com/2019/06/16/if-scientific-fact-contradicts-the-republican-talking-points-they-will-silence-science/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:05:37 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2019/06/16/if-scientific-fact-contradicts-the-republican-talking-points-they-will-silence-science/#comment-43277 ER Sun, 16 Jun 2019 19:53:25 +0000 https://habitablezone.com/?p=77082#comment-43277 The Prestige and Respect which science commands in public opinion is a direct threat to the GOP because scientific evidence and research is so often used to attack the institutions the Conservative sector's commercial interests use to generate profit. The only curb they will philosophically accept on their activity is competition and the market, and they're constantly working on ways to game those, or devise monopolies to get around them.. As far as they're concerned, science is used solely to interfere with their ability to accumulate. Scientists aren't in it for great riches, the most they get out of their careers financially is a comfortable middle class existence and perhaps the security of academic tenure. They can't be trusted to yield to purely financial incentives. From that point of view, the idea that the scientific ethos is mostly a left wing conspiracy to embarrass or impoverish the business community is a very short leap. For the Right, the legitimate role of science is solely the creation of profitable new products and the development of ever more destructive weapons. Oh yeah, and inventing expensive miracle drugs to prolong the lives of those who can afford them. The ideal scientist, as far as they are concerned, is one who immediately converts his scientific breakthrough into a successful product or industry. You get some inkling of the contempt they have for pure research when you catch them saying things like; "He may be a great chemist, or physicist, or engineer, but he is a lousy businessman." There is no question what they think really matters. In other words, science, which you and I consider the supreme achievement of the human species, is to them just a plodding drudgery to be indulged in by mere employees. Real men don't DO science, they just hire the creepy little fuckers. Yep, RL. What we are facing here is not just people with differing political or economic views. Its real evil. The Prestige and Respect which science commands in public opinion is a direct threat to the GOP because scientific evidence and research is so often used to attack the institutions the Conservative sector’s commercial interests use to generate profit. The only curb they will philosophically accept on their activity is competition and the market, and they’re constantly working on ways to game those, or devise monopolies to get around them.. As far as they’re concerned, science is used solely to interfere with their ability to accumulate.

Scientists aren’t in it for great riches, the most they get out of their careers financially is a comfortable middle class existence and perhaps the security of academic tenure. They can’t be trusted to yield to purely financial incentives. From that point of view, the idea that the scientific ethos is mostly a left wing conspiracy to embarrass or impoverish the business community is a very short leap. For the Right, the legitimate role of science is solely the creation of profitable new products and the development of ever more destructive weapons. Oh yeah, and inventing expensive miracle drugs to prolong the lives of those who can afford them.

The ideal scientist, as far as they are concerned, is one who immediately converts his scientific breakthrough into a successful product or industry. You get some inkling of the contempt they have for pure research when you catch them saying things like; “He may be a great chemist, or physicist, or engineer, but he is a lousy businessman.” There is no question what they think really matters. In other words, science, which you and I consider the supreme achievement of the human species, is to them just a plodding drudgery to be indulged in by mere employees. Real men don’t DO science, they just hire the creepy little fuckers.

Yep, RL. What we are facing here is not just people with differing political or economic views. Its real evil.

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