The practice of funding science with congressional earmarks1 is just the tip of the iceberg. I fear that we are experiencing a general disintegration of the quality and integrity of American science and engineering. From fundamental research to operating decisions like the ones made on the Deepwater Horizon that led to the disaster in the Gulf, bad technical decisions are being made—more often than not driven by politicians, lawyers, managers, and accountants with little or no relevant technical knowledge.
The Department of Defense and the Department of Energy have effectively turned most of their scientists and engineers into contract monitors. Privatization of research has turned many of our academic researchers into prostitutes, willing to lie, cheat, and blow in the ear of anyone with money. We need to begin to demand better of our leaders and ourselves. If we do not, we can look forward to more pork in research, ...
