This week's topic was culled from current events. If more politicians listened to scientists would the world be a safer place?
The quick, easy answer is yes but is it actually true? Science in and of itself makes the world a better place, but safer? Certainly, many scientific advances are dedicated to improving safety in some manner. Some would not even be possible without the efforts of politicians because politicians control much of the funding that drives scientific discovery.
What makes the world a safer place? Sufficient food supplies, which require efficient, effective food production and food distribution; clean water supplies; absence of war; safe and efficient transportation services/systems seem like a good basic set of requirements. Well fed folks with plenty of fresh water and decent transportation systems should result in happy people.
Science can directly impact food production and distribution, clean water and transportation. Food production has been greatly enhanced since the days of the Green Revolution, aka the Third Agricultural Revolution that exploded in the late sixties. Things developed to the point where sufficient food production was available in new, developing countries. But then the politicians got in the way and we have struggled with distribution ever since. Add climate change that we are now experiencing and now we need a science reset to boost production again. We need a political reset to distribute food supplies. Water demand will be a major issue moving forward. Thanks to the greed of capitalists like Nestle - who say water is not a right but a product to be bought and sold - water purification will require the best efforts of the scientific community. Then we need to rely on politicians to get the water where it is needed - naturally after select bank accounts are greased along the way.
Absence of war. Again -absence of war. A glance at the daily news headlines makes that seem nearly impossible. There is little science can do to prevent war - that one is on the politicians'.
Science can assist in the transportation portion of our equation. Of course the politicians must make the decision to go forward with infrastructure projects. Pocket lining 101.
If politicians listened to scientists would the world be a safer place? Absolutely. But political ambition and greed constantly cloud the thinking of the politicians. Logic leaves the building, and in fact it often seems like logic never made it in the door. Politicians, it seems, rarely look beyond their own benefits.
That is my quick take on this weeks topic. Be sure to check Ramana's here.
Unusually, we have divergent views. You still have hopes for the political class. I have none.
ReplyDeleteNo sir I have NO hope for politicians. They rank right down there with religious leaders on my scale
ReplyDeleteMy expectation is that I will meet a leprechaun long before I meet a scientist. Meanwhile, this reminds me of a researcher named Fritz Haber who was listened to by the politicians. Then there was Wernher von Braun who is one of my favorites. Names like Oppenheimer and Teller also spring to mind as researchy sorts who advised politicians.
ReplyDeleteMy all time favorite is Archimedes, who got the attention of the leadership of Syracuse during the Roman siege.
I agree with what I believe to be your subtext Looney - I just intentionally left that open ended in this short blog. Of course science generates the ideas that become weapons of all types. And of course pols choose those most often to follow. Power only seems to speak to truth these days when someone's pocket can be lined.
Deleteif we could come back and view this planet in the future i have no doubt it would still be muddling along in the mire of greed and ignorance. we talk about learning from history. but amazing advances in science are made and we still approach living as if we were in the dark ages as to our humanity. so really what is gained? just a shinier way to annihilate ourselves.
ReplyDeletei actually got to speak to Wernher von Braun Looney!
i worked part time for a very brilliant and eccentric scientist here in my city. he was working on something that required secrecy. it was about 1964.
the phone rang one morning and i answered it and a man's voice said "this is Wernher von Braun. I wish to speak to Mr X" i say X because i can't even remember 'my scientist's name!
i was in shock i think. i remember walking to the door of the lab and telling X that Wernher von Braun was on the line holding for him. he said thank you and took the call.
i called my husband and told him! and in the day of 'important' people calling and using their secretaries (that's what we were then. NOT administrative assistants) to place a call for them because they were 'so' important...
there was one of the greatest scientists of all time calling my obscure scientist boss himself. it was very refreshing to me. i think of it every time i see von Braun in a documentary now. and now i wonder if they were discussing going to the moon.
Well Tammy our brush with the fanmous surely beats my jock-loaded group by miles and miles. Funny how we "ignored" the Nazi background of those Germans because it was in our best interest to do so. Of course back then we claimed the moral high ground though recent events clearly indicate there is a moral grand canyon in our high ground. Perhaps tectonic plates have shifted thanks to fracking. Who knows. AT this point I honestly care more about the upcoming Sharks vs Golden Knights playoff series. It is my break from reality - we all need them from time to time.
DeleteNow I am wondering where Tammy worked. Here in Silicon Valley we rub elbows with Ph.D's ever day, but rarely someone so famous.
DeleteLooney she lives in OK but I will ask her where she was when that occured. I used to work about 5 blocks from Apple in Cupertino - met Steve Jobs. He was a colossal jackass but that was years and years ago. I missed on meeting Mr Microsoft in Ft Worth - RadioShack was doing a lot with Microsoft in the early days.mIn fact - I have heard that the last software Bill Gates actually wrote himself was the suite of software in the Tandy Model 100 - the portable computer we sold back then.
DeleteNorman, OK is where she was working when it happened
DeleteFascinating. I will be in Norman, OK 3 days later.
DeleteLOL!!! yes. my break from it all is a wonderfully foolish romantic comedy starring James Garner and Doris Day.
ReplyDeleteand it's on turner classic movies tonight.
and i'm excited! lol :) SH
My movie escape also includes Garner - with Julie Andrews and it is called The Americanization of Emily - it is in fact in my top 5 al time films. I alo like The Wheeler Dealers - yours must be The Thrill of it All - also a fun watch. Let the popcorn popping begin - sit back and enjoy. Well - in a little while - LOL
Deletethose two movies are also my favorites. i suppose it's a misnomer to keep calling 'my favorite!' i have too many to pick just one. i also liked Garner in Cash McCall.
ReplyDeletebut Chill Wills in Wheeler Dealers was great too!
and i was heartened to hear that the Americanization of Emily was his favorite movie with Julie.
although i LOVE Victor Victoria! i can think of some scenes in it in my head and literally lol. just a movie lover i guess! bring on the popcorn! SH
The tricky thing, I guess, is to separate true science from biased science. This is hard to do, because a good scientific study needs funds - which can usually only be obtained from biased people who want a certain result.
ReplyDeleteIf politicians truly desired to listen to scientists (which I doubt) would they even know which were true scientists?
Not sure I can agree with that - all science, if working on a basic hypothesis is searching for results that support that hypothesis - do you consider that biased science? politicians will ignore science that does support the result the politician wants.
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