Paul Krugman weighs in on ID strategy in the NYT

[manderguy]

Linky. (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/opinion/05krugman.html) I'd like to nominate Irving Kristol, the neoconservative former editor of The Public Interest, as the father of "intelligent design." No, he didn't play any role in developing the doctrine. But he is the father of the political strategy that lies behind the intelligent design movement - a strategy that has been used with great success by the economic right and has now been adopted by the religious right.

Back in 1978 Mr. Kristol urged corporations to make "philanthropic contributions to scholars and institutions who are likely to advocate preservation of a strong private sector." That was delicately worded, but the clear implication was that corporations that didn't like the results of academic research, however valid, should support people willing to say something more to their liking.

<snip>

The most spectacular example is the campaign to discredit research on global warming. Despite an overwhelming scientific consensus, many people have the impression that the issue is still unresolved. This impression reflects the assiduous work of conservative think tanks, which produce and promote skeptical reports that look like peer-reviewed research, but aren't. And behind it all lies lavish financing from the energy industry, especially ExxonMobil.

<snip>

But what if creationists do to evolutionary theory what corporate interests did to global warming: create a widespread impression that the scientific consensus has shaky foundations?

[Prof]

Yep, yep, yep....

Thanks for the link. (And thank goodness for "bugmenot"). ;-)

[Rhaedas]

But what if creationists do to evolutionary theory what corporate interests did to global warming: create a widespread impression that the scientific consensus has shaky foundations?

They haven't already, at least in the U.S.? Maybe part of this is due to scientific illiteracy, but the objective seems to be firmly met at present.

But the point of the strategery is a good one...unlike stupid liberals, who come right out on an issue, these guys build their foundation first, then years later strike hard.

[Tom Pain]

There is no force more potent in the modern world than stupidity fueled by greed.- Ed Abbey
Hmm, "Stupidity fueled by greed" sounds like a good description of the pronouncements made by conservative/libertarian thinks tanks. It seems their influence is growing, too

[JLK]

I'd like to nominate Irving Kristol, the neoconservative former editor of The Public Interest, as the father of "intelligent design." No, he didn't play any role in developing the doctrine. But...
Linky. (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/05/opinion/05krugman.html)"Developing?" No. Encouraging? Yes. (http://reason.com/9707/fe.bailey.shtml)

[manderguy]

They haven't already, at least in the U.S.? Maybe part of this is due to scientific illiteracy, but the objective seems to be firmly met at present.
Yeah, I was left at times thinking "where the heck has Krugman been?" I guess he's been too busy pointing out how bad the admin has been for economic policies to notice 45% of Americans are YEC.

Here's a column from the Washington Post. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/04/AR2005080401824.html) It really hammers on the anti-science part of the admin.