Science: Trust But Verify

To mix in two Republican presidents, Eisenhower and Reagan.  Most semi-educated people have heard of Dwight Eisenhower's warning about the rise of the 'military-industrial complex' in his farewell address.  It gets thrown in our faces several times a year.  But very few are aware of his warnings about the 'science-federal government complex':

Trust only sparingly in government science

...The speech is usually noted for popularizing the phrase "military-industrial complex," but Eisenhower also warned about government's control of science.

"Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been overshadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields...In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers. The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present — and is gravely to be regarded.

Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite."

In this context, Don Surber is particularly addressing the issue of global warming, but in fact the issue is general to science.  As they say, the golden rule is the "He who has the gold, rules." When it comes to science in the United States (and sadly probably most of the rest of the world too), the government has the gold.  Most of what passes for non-governmental research is done in response to government demands.