"...Bill Blakemore with ABC News has an interesting five-part interview with climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann, where Dr. Mann explains how a "New McCarthyism" is targeting climate scientists..."
Reminds me of why ABC news isn't at the top of my "must see" list.
Well, since he brought it up, and since many people alive today won't recognize the term, let's examine the "OLD McCarthyism"
From Wiki:
"...McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence..."
Wow. He says there are people out there who are making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason against "climate scientists". Hope he has evidence to back that up.
So some historical context is needed.
"...The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from 1950 to 1954 and characterized by heightened fears of communist influence on American institutions and espionage by Soviet agents..."
We don't have a heightend fear of the Soviets anymore. We do have a fear that the "climate scientists" are altering or withholding data in an attempt to cause fear that the climate is reaching some "tipping point", and plunging the globe into some catastrophic, apocalyptic lifestyle.
Since he used McCarthyism, and since a part of the definition includes the term "...without proper regard for evidence...", people really should examine evidence before making any wild, unsubstantiated accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason.
So google the terms Mann, Tiljander.
We'll get back to that evidence later on...
But, to continue - "...Originally coined to criticize the anti-communist pursuits of Republican U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, "McCarthyism" soon took on a broader meaning, describing the excesses of similar efforts..."
Used to describe anti-communist pursuits (as identified by others). So I suppose he's trying to say that they're trying to expose those with anti-science pursuits.
If I said there were a group of people that will do whatever they can to try to keep scientific papers out of the journals, would that be anti-science?
If I said there were people who pressured a journal editor to quit because a peer-reviewed paper was published, would that be anti-science?
If I said there were people that refuse to archive their data and refuse to pass this data on to legitimate scientists, would you call that anti-science?
If someone stated "why should I pass my data to others if all they're trying to do is find something wrong with it" could that person's actions be described as anti-science?
If someone takes data that the original authors described as contaminated, turned that data upside down and used it to infer that the earth is heading for some catastrophic, apocalyptic future, would that be considered anti-science?
Here's where that discussion of Dr Mann's use of the Tiljander proxy comes in. Well, at least there's evidence available for the accusations.
What about the other "scientists" that support and defend such data hoarding, data manipulation, and faulty results? Would they be labeled as being anti-science?
Meet the world of the "climate scientist". While this evidence may not rise to the level of disloyalty, subversion, or treason, it sure falls under another part of the defination of McCarthyism:
"...The term is also now used more generally to describe reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries..."
I don't consider scientists to be political adversaries. I don't care which side of the fence they find themselves on. Scientists, like others can (and do) have their own ideas about the world in general. No one denies that.
But when they use their "science" (or their standing in the scientific world) to try to shape the political process, they stop being scientists.
I've heard quite a few "climate scientists" do exactly what Dr Mann is accusing others of doing - passing on reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries.
Such as accusing us of McCarthyism. Can't wait to see the other four parts and see what other terms he uses to describe us.
