The following could apply to the cell phone discussion too... but I'll plop it here.
As weatherman James Spann says: “I would not listen to anyone that is a politician, a journalist, or someone in science who is generating revenue from this issue.” The only problem is that would leave out an enormous number of scientists who have already cashed in on it.
If you ever wanted proof of how "science" can be bought, all you have to do is look at the fraud being perpetrated by these PhD's who are sucking on the global warming "research" teat. They know that only those who are putting out "results" in favour of global warming get grant money, because the funds are controlled by true believers. And if a huge chunk of your income was tied to what you said, we'd all be sorely tempted to just grin and nod as we cashed those govenment funding cheques.
Amen to that....
It's really damned if you do and damned if you don't. I like to advocate for greener technologies, more ecologically sound practices and the works, but if I were to try to get any kind of message out there, I would be lambasted for the fact that I have no degree in climate sciences, so what can I know right? So I wouldn't get any attention by the media, I could try getting it out underground or in non-conventional media. The problem with that in my eyes is that message doesn't reach the same volume of people and I'd wager the people who would end up reading it would be supporters anyways, kinda like preaching to the choir.
So what avenues would I have left? I could get a degree and publish papers. To publish research, I would have to procure funding from one of the bodies which give out money to research. As an example, my school was about to hire a Professor last year, he moved his familly and everything from Mexico, but at the last minute his funding fell through, a requirement for the job. Don't know what became of him, but he's not at my school. Universities conduct research on other peoples dimes, professors bring in research money from outside of the school by applying for grants. Governments give out money, corporations give out money, and NGO's give out money. No matter how noble the professor might be, there will be naysayers out there saying the person made their money from this stuff so maybe that's the motivation?
As far as politicians go, I agree. I'm sick of the party/individual reputation coming first. I like how Independants operate, but in our system they are marginalized, a novelty. I used to think I would like being a politician, I like mediating, I like talking to people, I like being helpful and I keep things honest. Sounds good on a forum or when I'm chatting with buddies, but I wonder how well everyone else feels? Heard it before, he'll be corrupt soon, etc.
No matter what someone chooses to do, there will inevitably be some people out there who feel the need to knock you down a notch, or all the way if they can. Circumstances like those I mentioned get pounded out by the pundits pandering to their political masters. The all powerful media blitz obfuscates the good deed or good nature and replaces it with cynical and sinister intent.
I'd like to think if I ever get the chance I could be so noble, without fear of being called a hypocrite, sadly I'm sure there is something in my past or in my future which would be used to knock me back. Perhaps it's not possible to get far enough ahead to make that difference without blemishing the character and the ideals from where the journey starts, I'd like to think it is possible. Though on examination, the big players, the ones who get peoples attention always get knocked on their ass eventually. Wethor they be an environmentalist or an evangelist, politician or scientist; it seems they always have that skeleton(s) in the closet. Could be a result of how we do things now a days, or maybe we're all prone to corruption.
I don't know...I'm young yet, maybe I don't understand the realities of what it takes. Any suggestions?