> That's crazy talk gut. It is clearly the emissions from the
> bulldozers that are killing all the frogs, not the bulldozing
> of the swamps to put up a super mall.
That gave me a good laugh : )
> gut dude, honestly, should no one get paid for anything?
Getting paid is part of life. Selling your integrity isn't.
> You really think all science is bunk?
Nope. I'm a 'follow the money' kind of a guy. If something
smells fishy, I wanna see the money trail. It isn't limited
to science. There are many fields that are 'holy', meaning
that it is almost an offense to ask to see a money trail.
I believe it's these areas that are the worst for corruption.
Compared to some churches and political groups, environmental
scientists are a fairly ethical bunch.
> Just climate science?
No, in particular I'm much more cynical of the food and
drug industry. One never reads about a powerful lobby being
successful in it's efforts to raise standards in food
production. Instead, they are allowed to continually suck
more and more nutrients out of foods, and replace them
with antibiotics, steroids and other drugs. If one looks
at the money trail, it's obvious that something is never
exchanged for nothing.
> All environmental science?
Misguided environmental science is irritating, and can
often be replaced by common sense. The kind that is
carefully and intelligently targeted to make a real
difference is invaluable.
> Even stuff which leads to concrete developments in engineering?
In my eyes, those are possibly the ones with the least
amount of inherant corruption, or maybe just hypocricy.
Those scientists seem to be honest about the fact that
they are persuing money.
> Going back how far?
I think there is a time/corruption curve, and it gets
a bit steeper every year.
> We have some lovely canals here in Serbia which as a scientist,
> I believe to have been badly polluted by man,
You should see the Kentucky river. I have a septic tank
installed, but most don't. I'd like to see it change,
but it's hard to make people pay for something that they
honestly can't afford.
> anyone who doubts the sincerity of the people I work with
> (ha ha, cos we get these massive kick backs from all over
Your data doesn't smell fishy, so I'd see no reason to
request a money trail. It's entirely believable that
Serbian canals are poluted and should be cleaned. I suspect
though, that the Serbian people are in a similar position
as the Kentuckians where money is concerned.
> welcome to come swim in them, bathe their children there,
> drink freely of the waters,
They do that in India, not Indiana (or Kentucky).
> my apparently worthless professional opinion, it might
> be dangerous to your health.
Convince your countrymen, somehow, to install septic tanks.
Don't ask me how, as I've yet to convince any of my own
countrymen to do the same.
> climate change debates is because they just serve to
> completely bypass debate about other environmental issues
> which are also important.
I would view the 'other' ones as more important, as they
have a lower corruption factor, in my opinion. In Kentucky,
there have been many successful environmental efforts in
regards to re-introducing wildlife to the region that had
been previously severly depleted or extinct. We now have
surprisingly large populations of black bear, and I've
recently even had the chance to see one personally.
Whatever tax money they spent to research, plan, and
implement those projects was money well spent IMO, and I
wouldn't begrudge a bit more. Perhaps the Co2 fanatics
could learn a bit here...
"Whip me!" pleads the adom player. The rng replies... "No."