The appointment of National Research Council president John MacDougall in Canada — effectively the country’s top scientist — is being received by scientists the way James Watt was received by environmentalists in the Reagan Administration as head of the national park system. Like Watt, MacDougall seems antagonistic to the field that is supposed to be fostering with federal funds. Recently, MacDougall announced that “Scientific discovery is not valuable unless it has commercial value.” It turns out that all of that stuff by Galileo was just academic crap.
Gary Goodyear, minister of state for science and technology, announced that the NRC will shift its focus away from basic research to “large-scale research projects that are directed by and for Canadian business.” That will mean little or no funding for basic research under the $900 million annual budget. It is part of the conservative governments shift toward industry despite protests from leading scientists that the approach is simplistic and shortsighted. Those commercial applications are built on a foundation of basic research.
McDougall’s bio says that he began his career as a petroleum engineer and ultimately became the owner of an international engineering consulting firm.
The shift in funding and policy is a major blow for universities in Canada and will hurt both the scientific and educational communities in Canada. It is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of science — a type of science philistines, people who are “guided by materialism and . . . disdainful of intellectual or artistic values.”
Source: Harper
Another example of the wealthy corporations steering public policy and public monies into their own pockets.
Dave,
Great video clip.
Really more about the (continued) rise of the global plutocracy.
It’s about the money, the redistribution upward. And keep the serfs dumb.
Philistine or not, whatever works…
With apologies to the memory of Thomas Crapper, isn’t “crap” sometimes useful as fertilizer?
Friendly Fascism: The New Face of Power in America
by Bertram Gross
written in 1980 still ahead of its time…
…applies to Canada as well as America.
http://www.amazon.com/Friendly-Fascism-Face-Power-America/dp/0896081494/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373375646&sr=8-1&keywords=friendly+fascism
Friendly Fascism: The New Face of Power in America
Bertram Gross
“If we look at the 19th century as an example, we had the invention of the steam engine, the internal combustion engine, the airplane, the locomotive, hydroelectric power, the hundreds of inventions by Edison, Tesla and others. All funded by industry or individuals I might add.”
All based in part or in whole on pure science research.
Also, Tesla was a scientist – a physicist – in addition to being an engineer.
Edison was (kind of) an engineer and a businessman, but he was no scientist.
Et Tu, Canada?
The above comment inspired by a recent column on the Turley Blog :o)
This link below is inspired by Dr. Seuss.
More corporate welfare loaded onto the backs of the taxpayer. Welcome to our world, Canada. Care to hypothesize revolution?
If we look at the 19th century as an example, we had the invention of the steam engine, the internal combustion engine, the airplane, the locomotive, hydroelectric power, the hundreds of inventions by Edison, Tesla and others. All funded by industry or individuals I might add.
This isnt necessarily a bad thing. How does it benefit humanity to study the mating habits of a snail darter?
But you could say who knows until someone does. If you have limited funds with which to work, I would apply them on things which have commercial viability.
But then I oppose government funding of science so I think this guy is wrong to fund any science using taxpayer dollars. Just another example of fascism/socialism run amok.
I guess there is a dumbing down in Canada just like here in America. It seems like politicians are always about money.
A technocrat in the original sense of the word is someone who applies the scientific method to solving social problems.
The article should be titled rise of the technocrats. People who only care about how much money the govt can lawfully steal.
The object of his philosophy of science is the creation of consumer goods.
The bright shiny things of Western Civilization’s allure.
All (including science) must serve the epigovernment, a commercial enterprise driven by word generating empire.
Which has side effects.
Rather than writing excessively, this sums it up quite well:
http://youtu.be/22gznZCLjW0
Or maybe this guy’s brains are harboring a Peeping Tom in Tulsa.
What do you expect from a Scot named MacDougal? We have a dog here at the dogpac who is too busy to get in on the Dogologue Machine and chime in on discussions of world importance. His name is: MacDougal and he is part Poodle and part Douglas Sheltie. He is all business. In fact he gets the whole dogpac in trouble because he does “his business” on the First Hole of the golf course in plain view– not at night like the rest of us.
The rise of the capitalist nerds with the mantra: “Nothing is of value unless it makes me money.” Guess they never read Timothy:
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
So I guess “Climate Change” and Environmental sustainability is Out.
Serious reading:
http://www.paecon.net/PAEReview/issue64/Smith64.pdf
real-world economics review,
issue no. 64
Capitalism and the destruction of life on Earth:
by Richard Smith
[
Institute for Policy Research & Development, London
http://www.paecon.net/PAEReview/issue64/Smith64.pdf
We don’t need no stinking science! Ignorance government is the new rage. I’m sure he has many friends and like-minded enthusiasts in the US GOP House.
Should I take comfort in the fact that stupid GREED is not just an American trait?