How one proceeds from this point depends on whether or not the argument that there is a governance problem at all is credible, and whether the crisis of governance is due to too much or too little democracy. I am convinced that both science and society would be better off if the United States were to move in the direction of more, rather than less, public governance of science and technology. The question is: How can science and technology be governed more democratically?
One answer is to remove some of the impediments to public participation in science and technology policy-making. There are at least four such impediments: an apathetic, scientifically illiterate citizenry, experts who believe in the republic of science, corporate capital that is shortsighted, and a university system that is losing its autonomy.
First, lay members of the public have little influence over policy for science and technology because ...
