principle. My note of caution, comes from actually participating in some of that kind of science and then watching it transformed into policies and economic activities that were a perversion of the original motivations of the people who did the scientific work... In this case the field was corn genetics---the core of GM crappola. The basic science was great and well motivated for interests in evolution and understanding various molecular cell processes.
[WS:] Good point. But this is basically a battle for alternative solutions within a particular system of thought. As I said before, many alternative solutions are possible, so the choice between them is arbitrary i.e. not dictated by systemic requirements. The choice between these alternatives is always political . However, when you have political vacuum either because the opposition is weak or shooting itself in the foot by opting out of the negotiations altogether and withdrawing into utopia of one kind or another - those who remain in the process will obviously take an advantage of this and choose a solution that suits them the best. That is why you have the corporate crappola writing public policy, whereas 'da people' stomp their feet, burn their 'hoods, break windows, purchase guns, spit on their symbolic enemies (the 'gummint', generic liberal elites, the academia, the UN, the World Bank, the corporations, generic capitalists or racists, and so on.)
In the short term, it is good that these crackpots are kept a safe distance from the halls of power, because they are simply too wacky. In the long term, however, it creates a fairly dangerous situation, first because corporations can do what they want with little public opposition, and second because the wackos and other marginalized elements get organized if not into lynching mobs then into knee-jerk Repug or other fascist 'Sturmabteilung.'
Wojtek