Posted by
Andrews on Saturday, April 26, 2008 9:08:20 PM
Whenever I point people to junkscience.com, some environmentalist will point out that the site owner has not been published in peer reviewed journals and is funded by corporations.
First, let me deal quickly with the first complaint, as it is the most foolish. Whether or not he has been published in a peer reviewed journal is irrelevant. If the facts he publishes are accurate, who cares what his publication history is? If my three year old hands me a book or a PhD, the contents of the book are the same. Likewise, whether Milloy is published or not, the facts he posts are as incontrovertible.
The other argument is more common, and leveled at critics not only of global warming, but critics of any liberal position. The left constantly points out that global warming critics are funded by "evil corporations", "big oil" and so on.
There are two objections to this argument.
The first is simple. It does not matter who funds research if the research is correct. Was Nazi research on nuclear fission invalid because Nazis funded it? No, science is science. If a study is valid, it is valid regardless of where the money comes from.
Second, if we assume funding questions ARE valid, just for the sake of argument, doesn't it mean something that many who support global warming theories are funded by the government, where grants are dependent upon holding to the party line? If we are going to cast suspicion on research because of funding, should it not work both ways?
Of course, I do not hold with that theory. Instead, I would take a much more practical approach. If you think someone is making a false argument, rather than cast aspersions by pointing to their publication record, or telling me who funded them, why not show me where their arguments are false?
Of course, when someone casts such aspersions, the reason is often quite simple, they are unable to refute the claims any other way.
UPDATE
By the way, to those who point out Milloy's lack of publications, the proper response is "And Gore's doctorate is from what university?"