re: #843 LudwigVanQuixote

The general problem— emphasis on “general” — that (and I do not have time to cite references) is that there have been examples in my own life in litigation where I see “experts”; doctors, engineers, etc. give opinions that support a certain position. The look at the same facts, data, test results, etc. and have not just differing opinions— but diametrically opposed opinions.

It is because of situations like these that many people are jaundiced by scientists who take a position. You are right in that science should be above it all— but it is not. It is as susceptible to greed and corruption as any other human institution. So, when a scientist from a certain think-tank which has had “liberal” of left-leaning sympathies publishes a paper, the initial inclination is to suspect the paper of being some form of leftist propaganda in the guise of a scientific study.

I am not saying this is right— but it is the perception that many people that I know have of the scientific community.