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Comment by blintz | Hacker News Reader

Republican House member Lamar Smith:

"The E.P.A. routinely stacks this board with friendly scientists who receive millions of dollars in grants from the federal government. The conflict of interest here is clear."

Yes, how dare they put scientists on the "Scientific Advisory Board". What we really need is businesspeople from the coal industry!

Is there no shame? No limit to the blatant disregard for science and public safety in favor of coal companies?

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> Is there no shame?

No.

I'm quite sure men in the smoke filled rooms are right now bellowing "This is OUR TIME! Bwa-ha-ha-ha!"

You're downvoted but I think you're right. Climate change won't wipe out everyone; it'll be a long process that takes hundreds or thousands of years, during which time there will be an enormous concentration of power to war-lords and the creation of a new slave class. This is the outcome that I believe is being banked on by some of the most powerful people. There are others who believe in the "rising tide floats all boats". Game on for the ultra-powerful. The rest of us are mostly bystanders.

"rising tide floats all boats" is just attractive psuedo-logic made up by "supply siders" (which is cover for "hyper rich") or their shills (Congress and the President) to lull have-nots into taking on a larger share of the tax burden.

If you're not a cynic, you're still fucked.

No there isn't because the people in this country are simply too stupid to realize there should be. And because politicians like this idiot don't get shamed, they get reelected. And so on and so forth, forever and ever the stupidity is not only passed forward, but celebrated. There is no hope for people who celebrate their own stupidity.

Reminder: Lamar Smith was the one pushing SOPA.

Yeah. Pretty sure shame is null.

Game theory wise though, this is a sound statement. Science and scientists have shown that they are beholden to the powers of self-interest.

Public choice theory[0] goes a long way.. not sure if this is an improvement, but the lack of progress on actually addressing climate change, instead of just debating is, is peculiar.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_choice

I'm very fond of public choice theory but you need to offer something better than simply pointing to its existence after opening with the claim that all scientists are self-serving, which has the primary effect of foreclosing discussion before it even gets started.

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