Politicizing Science: The Alchemy of Policymaking

by Michael Gough

In this book leading scientists share their experiences and observations of developing and testing hypotheses, offering insights on the dangers of manipulating science for political gain. It describes how politicization--whether by misapplication, overextension, or outright manipulation of the scientific record to advance particular policy agendas--imposes expenditures of money, missed opportunities, and burdens on the economy.

313 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Daniel.Leroux23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative book provides insights into how scientific knowledge is transformed into policymaking. Illustrates specific examples of flaws of the current system in materializing knowledge into knowledgable regulations. The wide variety of scientific topics covered (environmental endocrine disruptors, cancer, global warming, nuclear energy, Food regulation, ecology etc) is what made me rate the book as a very good one.

The authors are people that worked in these regulation offices. That is a good thing because they know the "inside" factor of how these bureaucratic decisions work.

Some affirmations I found not verifiable but in most cases, the authors cite the literature they are talking about.

One particular chapter illustrates the landscape of fear that Al Gore used to silent scientific dissenters whose evidence opposed his views. If true, looks like Al Gore is a bit of a maggot. But I'll leave that in the opinion realm.

[Andy May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good collection of essays by those attacked by the climate alarmist mafia.