The march in Washington saw more scientists then ever gathering in one single place that didn’t include William Shatner.
The most ironic part of today’s march: Without CO2, the economy wouldn’t be able to support so many scientists. Concern over climate change, and the proposed budget cuts brought them out of their labs quicker than you can say, “The effect of alcohol on mating habits of the sub-Saharan tsetse fly.”
In Newton’s time, the amount of people who could devote their lives to science were very few. Only men of privilege could take an afternoon nap under an apple tree. The vast majority of people were too busy digging turnips out of the mud in an attempt to forestall starvation for another day.
And back then there were lots of windmills. They also had plenty of bio-fuel to cook the turnips, as their livestock provided a surplus. Back then, the world was incredibly “green” and desperately poor.
But thanks to fossil fuel, we are now living in a prosperity history has never seen. Petroleum allows one farmer with a tractor to do the labor that required thousands of peasants and oxen. Turnips are so plentiful, that some of America’s poorest can enjoy an obesity that was only reserved for Kings.
It also provides Washington with enough capital to employ thousands of scientists. Whereas only a handful of beguiling scientists could petition wealthy benefactors in the middle ages, anyone today can devote their life to science, for the mere cost of a grant proposal. The wealthier a nation, the more science it can support.
It Joe Bastardi makes this exact point in his post today: The March for … What?
…a vibrant economy seems to be a moral and ethical positive. As far as researchers worried about grants being cut, would you rather get 10% of 50 or 15% of 10? Yes, it’s a bit of an exaggeration, though it makes my point. The population curve and the increase in GDP and life expectancy says to me the pie is expanding and many new challenges that need researching are going to continue to challenge people. And science will have to meet that challenge.
It’s something that needs to be considered. Because I’m fairly certain that not a single scientist got to the Mall in an oxcart.
It is but one of thousands of trace elements in the atmosphere. Humans emit it. Plants need it. Life without it is impossible.
“…Ironic?” where’s the irony?
Because, Tim, Scientists are marching against their own interests.
The only reason why America can afford to study shrimp on a treadmill, is because of the enormous GDP fossil fuel provides.
they are not marching against their own interests, if their interests include themselves or their offspring living on Earth. thus no irony. they are marching for survival or less human suffering.
They’re marching for less CO2. That equates to more suffering.
It’s no coincidence that the nations with the least amount of disease, poverty and starvation, emit the most CO2.
I’ll leave that last absurd comment right where it is and let it fester on its own.