I wrote:
I know for a fact that our military bureaucracy is not that smart
when it comes to cold fusion. This is an observation, not
speculation. . . . This is also true of the Japanese bureaucracy
under the previous two Prime Ministers.
I meant Cabinets. Although I am pretty sure the bureaucracy is equally obtuse.
Those who are not obtuse are probably afraid to stick their necks
out, perhaps justifiably so. It would accomplish nothing except to
put a quick end to their careers.
We must recognize, there is a large reservoir of anti-cold fusion
hysteria out there. The skeptics claim that "vast majority of
scientists" do not believe the results. That would be difficult to
verify, but there is no doubt that many people have it in for this
research. I think that is enough to explain the suppression that has
taken place so far, without resorting to conspiracy theories. Many
people ridicule the research. A much smaller number actively campaign
against it, but the larger crowd eggs them on and rewards them. Most
of the activists are well known to readers here: Park, Huizenga,
Close, Garwin . . . Unfortunately, they have a lot of influence, and
cold fusion researchers have practically no influence at all.
Although that does seem to be changing, doesn't it?
As things now stand, Park can excoriate a researcher in the pages of
the Washington Post any time feels like it, and no researcher will be
allowed to respond. This has enormous influence on funding. More than
people realize. When your reputation is dragged through the mud in
the Post or Scientific American, no one will talk to you and there is
no chance you will get funded by any agency or venture capitalist. A
conspiracy is not needed. All it takes is one psychopath with the
power of the mass media at his disposal.
In addition to the Big Gun opponents such as Park, there are scads of
penny-ante nitwits campaigning against the research, such as the
editors at Wikipedia and bloggers. Individually they cause little
damage compared to Park, but their cumulative actions add up, because
many people consider Wikipedia or a blog to be a legitimate source of
information.
- Jed
