The involvement of scientists in politics is not new. Think of Ben Franklin. But many have been involved from the sidelines. Franklin, for example, did not hold an elected position until the end of his life. (He was President of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania 1785-88.)
From the article:
On Saturday, [Daniel] Suson, dean of engineering, mathematics and science at Purdue University Calumet, will join more than 70 other scientists, engineers and students at a hotel at Georgetown University for a crash course on elective politics.
"I've always been interested in politics, but my participation has been limited to yelling at my television," said Jason Haeseler, a Florida engineer and former registered Republican who will take the class and hopes to run for office as an independent.
Of curse, they are taking on the issues that we focus on at ScienceBlogs:
Scientists cite the debate over global warming as an example of having their insights and warnings cast aside. They have also complained the Bush administration has censored some of their research on warming and endangered species.
Scientists are also pushing hard for a presidential debate this year focusing on climate change and other science issues. So far, they have not persuaded the presidential candidates to agree to the forum.
There have been notable success, such as the election of Representative Bill Foster, a PhD physicist, to replace Dennis Hastert.
However, I tend to think that the successes will be limited. If they ever approach a critical mass, so to speak, then political machines will form against them. Right now, they are not much of a threat to any established power base. I keep thinking of what happened to the congressional Office of Technology Assessment.
Maybe I am wrong, but I tend to think that the intellectual influence of scientists will be limited in the USA for at least a few decades.
Even so, any small victory is welcome. Maybe Al Gore, although not a scientist, showed that it is possible. If it is to work, though, we would have to get the media on board first.
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