How Do Politicians Use Science to Create Jobs or be Able to Direct Their Policies - Essay Example

Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: Science is the intensive human effort to enable him to understand or to comprehend better the history of the natural world and consequently how it works.  It is a process of building knowledge about the universe and constructing the new ideas that helps to illuminate the world around us (Flentje & Aistrup, 2010). This can either be through a systematic observation or through experimentation that is aimed at stimulating natural process under controlled conditions. The scientists  constantly make new discoveries or developing  new concepts and theories then produce a body  of knowledge that in turn enable them to  change the way people think about nature (Jones, 2001). While on the other hand politics is to carry out a theory of influencing people on a civic or at personal level; it is all about to compromise, negotiate and bargain with people towards desired ends that are of great benefits to both the parties involved in such a deal. And among the things that can lead to such concession is science (Edelman, 1985). Therefore, science plays a fundamental role in politics and provides a powerful means going about the world thus they both go hand in hand to ensure a stable state (Garner, 1928). Knowledge and power go hand in hand and so the best way so far to increase power is to increase knowledge (Jones, 2001). The most dependable method for creating knowledge and power is science. That is all the time refines peoples’ morality, ethics and way of life that is political in its setting. Moreover it is still science that rearranges the power structures and vested interests in a long drive to give information to an individual which is also political in nature (Garner, 1928). In a nutshell, there is no point in time when science and politics are going to be separated. The two must be integrated to ensure that a state is stable enough and serving the interest of her citizens in the best ways possible; that is enjoyed by everyone, the ruled as well as the rulers (Flentje & Aistrup, 2010). Knowledgeable ruler knows how to go about challenging situations and is at better position to critically think and analyze facts to tentatively come up with an answer a waiting to solve the problem at hand, hence ensuring a smooth running of the government (Nathan, 2000). Generally, scientists are highly recognized and respected by the society at large; and are viewed as well trained practitioners of good judgment, observation and calculation framed without bias (Schmidt, Shelley & Bardes, 2012). The long term benefit of science is that it offers and addresses the societal needs that are put forward to be achieved in the desirable ways. But there has developed a very bad trend in the misuse of science for political and ideological gain among political leaders of given states in the world (Ethridge & Handelman, 2010). They are continuously distorting or misusing scientific findings and reports that seem contradictory to their set ideological agendas (Dickerson, Flanagan & O'Neill, 2009). They have always done this to help them in maintaining their status quo and political interest and of their sycophants, but ignoring their subjects who mandate them to work in those respective political offices.                 However decisions should always be made based on evidence so as scientists do; after thoroughly analyzing issues before giving their answers to problems at hand. This is a vital prove that politics is driven by ideologies and theories that are yet to be proved (Dickerson, Flanagan & O'Neill, 2009). Therefore, all politicians should have the knowledge to understand how to compose evidence –based debates and know how to clearly refine their perceptive on a question based on evidence (Schmidt, Shelley & Bardes, 2011). This would in turn foster their knowledge to pick on the correct decisions in their governance to ensure a stable government that serves the wishes of the electorate as expected by them (Garner, 1928). There is no chance for this to work more effectively if science and technology is not given a priority in the government, to help in producing knowledgeable citizens who run for the positions in government to exploit their potentials fully for a better state. Politicians greatly rely on science to create jobs or be able to direct their policies (Schmidt, Shelley & Bardes, 2011). At one point in time, scientists and politicians need to work in collaboration to help curb epidemics, developing environmentally friendly fuels or even putting down rules and regulations based on issues to do with health; drug abuse, abortion all which requires technical and scientific information to be dealt with successfully (Ethridge & Handelman, 2010). Therefore, this makes it very important for the politicians to have with them the scientific knowledge or even widely consult from the health practitioners greatly before making their decisions that could be of benefit to all the parties involved. It is through science and technology that States have been able to embrace the practice of risk assessment that has gradually increased in their performance in various fields in past decades (Ethridge & Handelman, 2010). Risk managers and other government officials in the industries have come up with more efficient ways to effectively meet the public demand in having a healthier and safer environment (Schmidt, Shelley & Bardes, 2011). This has been enabled further by mobilizing other scientific disciplines to give technical knowledge concerning risk related hazards. But in the today’s society, all have drastically changed since most politicians are not taking precaution on the impending dangers related to the negligence towards the risks (Dickerson, Flanagan & O'Neill, 2009). With the industrialization taking place in most States in the world, countries have become less concerned about the risks and this makes them worse than better as they think they are growing economically. As these States engage more on nuclear and chemical technologies, they are faced with the difficulty of disposing the high-level or rather low-level radioactive wastes, landfills, as well as other chemical facilities which are more dangerous to human and animal lives (Janda et.al. 2013). In the event that countries do not take precautions by ignoring the great work done by the scientists, who are knowledgeable and can give characterized objective, analytic, wise, and rational information based upon the real risks (Marini, 2005). They eventually use a lot of money to try and help the victims of national disasters such as; floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. The large sums of money directed in dealing with the problems could be used in other developmental activities if they were risk takers (Ford, 2013). This therefore outlines the vital role played by scientists in the governing of a country effectively. Politicization of science occurs when super world countries engage their science and technology component such as cell research, genetically modified organisms and climate change to deliver amicable change in lives of their citizens (Ford, 2013). Complex threat to national and homeland security can only be countered by technological superiority, and this has seen various States dominating the military technology of gunpowder weapons (Janda et.al. 2012). The rulers often won control over warfare in the process of assembling their states. They constructed their states by defeating domestic as well as the foreign rivals and typically offered defense to the conquered provinces from enemies in return for tax revenue, this was as a result science (Santos, 2011). This helped them grow politically and on the other hand diminishing other states, destroying property and killing innocent souls. Scientific information and conclusions are important to public policy matters and must be included in the decision making process (Edelman, 1985). At all times it should be the dominating factor to be considered before coming to a conclusion regarding issues to do with marketing policies, drug and substance abuse as well as vaccines to be administered to the citizens. In asking the question whether the science debate should be involved only increases the risks faced by the citizens (Janda et.al. 2012). In any political contest, numbers plays a crucial role for one to be mandated by the people to represent them in a given position. It is impossible to imagine a country with millions of people living in peace and prosperity and sustainable environment without dramatically new technology (Ford, 2013). That is why various country states invest heavily in education to see her citizens’ live better lives, reducing the mortality rates as well as improving their standards of living hence population increase and economic growth (Dickerson, Flanagan & O'Neill, 2009). A country can only be the preferred place to invest and the best place to hire the best and highly trained professionals if it only maintains its technological leadership and leadership in meeting the exploding demands for lifelong education. Through science and technology, the country is in a position to impart knowledge, values and skills through the use of best teaching methods hence making them socially acceptable (Edelman, 1985). The technical knowledge is there after translated into productive projects that help the individuals develop themselves economically leading to the stability of a state as it takes its role of offering protection to subjects in regard with the laid structures within the constitution. Science and politics are inseparable; they work hand in hand to ensure stable government. Good science leads to a better government that everybody enjoys and feels part of, a country with tremendous economic development, better living standards to all, where individual rights and privileges are respected (Edelman, 1985). While bad science puts the country at a risk of spending much money to ensure safety after failing to engage both scientists and politicians to work together for the wellbeing of their country, the money that would be used in other productive activities is therefore directed to serve other forces that can be avoided.   References Dickerson, M. O., Flanagan, T., & O'Neill, B. (2009). An introduction to government and politics: A conceptual approach. Toronto: Nelson Education. Edelman, M. J. (1985). The symbolic uses of politics. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. Ethridge, M. E., & Handelman, H. (2010). Politics in a changing world: A comparative introduction to political science. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Flentje, H. E., & Aistrup, J. A. (2010). Kansas politics and government: The clash of political cultures. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press. Ford, L. E. (2013). American government and politics today. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth. Garner, J. W. (1928). Political science and government. New York, Cincinnati: American Book Co. Janda, K., Berry, J. M., Goldman, J., & Hula, K. W. (2012). The challenge of democracy: American government in global politics. Australia: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Janda, K., Berry, J. M., Goldman, J., & Hula, K. W. (2013). The Challenge of Democracy American Government in Global Politics. Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Janda, Kenneth, Berry, Jeffrey M., Goldman, Jerry, Schildkraut, Deborah, & Hula, Kevin W. (2013). The Challenge of Democracy + Aplia Printed Access Card: American Government in Global Politics, the Essentials. Wadsworth Pub Co. 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