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    by Jim Hightower

MANUFACTURED DOUBT

While the Bushites and their corporate sponsors solemnly assert that governmental actions should be based on "the best science available," what they really mean is the best science they can twist to support their position.

They have become especially expert at deploying a PR tactic that professor David Michaels has recently dubbed, "manufactured doubt." By creating even a small uncertainty about a particular scientific reality, industry can defeat public policies that would protect We the People from corporate profiteering.

The ruthless tobacco giants, for example, did this for decades, finding a for-hire scientist here or there willing to say that the data showing that tobacco is addictive and causes cancer was still "inconclusive." Even though the best science available overwhelmingly condemned tobacco's destructiveness, the industry and its political apologists stalled public action for years–while tobacco corporations continued to hook kids, reap billions in profits, and kill millions of people.

Of course, the trick in this ploy is that science, by its very nature, is never absolute–it will always have some element of inconclusiveness, no matter how miniscule. Thus, even if 99.9 percent of the science says one thing, the corporate tricksters can distort the 0.1 percent and pervert public policy. We see this happening now as the Bushites and their oil industry backers are furiously manufacturing doubt over the devastating reality of global warming.

Indeed, defensive corporate flacks are even trying to manufacture doubt about professor Michael's exposé of their use of manufactured doubt! For example, one industry frontman said that Michaels, "Takes the position that government is always right and the private sector is always wrong"–when in fact Michaels has said no such thing. But such a total fabrication is a way to undermine the credibility of Michael's true point.

This is Jim Hightower saying...Lies dress up-in many costumes. Be especially wary of those from industry wearing the mask of "science."

Sources: "Manufactured doubt, made in the U. S. A.," Austin American Statesman, June 26, 2005

(c) 2005, Copyright - Saddleburr Productions, Inc.  This essay is herein reprinted with the author's consent.

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