Political Scientists

I came upon this description of scientists’ fearful response to the recent U.S. Elections:

Researchers Anxious and on the Defensive After Republican Gains
Many researchers fear the worst after a Republican resurgence at the polls produced a 25-plus-seat majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and loosened the Democrats’ grip on the Senate. The 2 November vote ended a 4-year streak of district, state, and national successes by Democrats that paved the way for unprecedented increases in federal research funding. The 112th Congress that will convene in January could be headed down another path. Budget hawks are preparing to reduce overall federal spending, newly elected members are questioning the need to take action against rising levels of greenhouse gases, and advocates for smaller government are eying pieces of the Department of Education, the Department of Energy, and even the National Science Foundation. Still, science lobbyists point to some bright spots amid those dark clouds.

(The full story is in Science magazine but you need a subscription for access.)

It is a sad commentary that scientists share the knee-jerk reaction of the majority of voters: “Mmmm. Government money, good. Less government money, bad.”

No consideration that perhaps in the long term, the smaller, less intrusive government promised by the new guard (especially the better elements of the Tea Parties) – whether they keep that promise remains to be seen – will be better for science. Just the typical short-term thinking that doesn’t bother thinking where the coveted money comes from, how it might keep coming, or of course whether receiveing the loot is just. Worse – no apparent concept that the question even exists.

Still, scientists are not entirely to blame. They are scientists not philosophers, and they are merely following the philosophy of the age. It is a pity, however, that more of them do not see the importance of philosophy and question the assumptions of the age as much as they’re happy to question the assumptions of scientific theories.