IS there ANY such thing as truly independent science? government funded
science? (academics do get to be snobs...) nonprofit organization funded
science? well such groups do have agendas, sure. but i don't see how they
could be worse then corporate funded science, because the only real
corporte agenda is making a profit. Cigarettes didn't cause cancer if a
tobacco company paid for the research.
There may be NO WAY WHATSOEVER to have totally unbiased science!!
but scientists do limit their sources to peer reviewed journals (as
opposed to so called "think tanks" that use "science" as public
relations.)
Why is a "special interest group" (something that's become a dirty word in
US politics) always something to which you *don't* belong? whether
environmentalists or energy companies, it's just the other side, never
your own? If you read both sides of an argument, yhou would have to
conclude that absolutely no one belongs to a special interest group. The
obvious anser is that everyone does, but they won't admit it.
When money makes the world go around, is anyone free to think for
themselves? (And face it, corporations are richer than academic
institutions, Greenpeace or even a lot of governments if you consider how
little governments are willing to spend on science.)
COnsider that the latest research into brain multitaksing and productivity
has scary implications for the mobile (which in the USA essentially means
"car") phone industry - I think Carnegie Mellon is planning another study
using driving simulators and handsfree mobile phones, What if it turns out
the human brain can't process such difficult tasks as driving and talking
on the phone simultaneously, without it being dangerous? The cellphone
trade groups will rush to fund their own study that draws the opposite
conclusion, obviously. If no one could make a call from a car that would
be a lot less calls. The "scientific" argument will go on for years and
years while certain people make money. (In *my* opinion talking on phones
in the car is dumb, handsfree kits are a pain and if you must talk on the
phone I think it's best to find the nearest parking lot. But that's just
me, I guess. Perhaps a few people are freakishly good multi-taskers and
just happen to need to use phones heavily in moving cars.)
Kristin
but you still need your hand to retreive the number and push the connect
button! unless it's voice activated...but I can't afford a German luxury
car, which I'm sure will have that first
