Science and Politics - Essay Example

Running head: SCIENCE AND POLITICS Science and Politics Insert Insert Affiliation Science and Politics Science has gone hand and hand with politics and public policy since after the colonization period. History dictates how the advancements in science had a direct bearing on how political stand points come into being. They still have a tremendous impact on political decisions although those in public seats would like to think that it is the political policies that guide the scientific studies.

For example, global warming is a scientific study that has been being researched and predicted for well over a decade now. These studies are gathered and discussed within political groups so that implementations can be made to raise awareness and to try and correct the environmental problems.Another example as to how science works within the political structure is in regards to chemical warfare. It is well known that despite the various differences between the political view on this and the scientific one, politics have been mediating the science of chemical warfare throughout history (Tuite 2005).

When history recalls the Persian Gulf War and the syndrome the soldiers experienced following it, from a political view, the government attempted to deny its existence, claiming there never were chemicals involved at first. This was due to the fact that when scientific explanations were wholly considered, they proved to be extremely costly and the government did not want that. However, it was a fact there was undeniable scientific proof of its existence. In this regard, science and politics clashed.

Science had a concern for the emerging illness while those in governmental positions were too concerned with the costs arising from the problem and wanted to be done with it. What Science pushes for is government funding so that it can research unusual illnesses and then make political figures aware. Without science there is no way of avoiding mass epidemics of illness, such as in the concern of the bird flu right now. It is scientists who alerted the government to the concerns of this strain of the flu then the government provided funds to science to allow further exploration.

From there, health policies have been instated to try and protect the whole of society.Fur further example, science has raised issues of smoking and the health concerns it brings to political parties (Cato Policy Report 2005). Because of the findings that science has laid out about tobacco, political figures have instated new taxes, added stronger age restrictions, caused price increases, and alienated many tobacco companies, surely hurting the Deep South's tobacco supplier business. All of this stems from scientific studies and directly impacts the government and vice versa.

Clinton's administration even developed a proposal, based on scientific research, to increase cigarette tax as a way of somehow funding a new health care policy (Cato Policy Report 2005). This directly shows the amount of influence science has on politics.The recent hurricanes that America has suffered of late, scientists have been researching. However, the study of global warming warned of how it could cause environmental disasters before hand (New Scientist 2005). Some in political positions have been listening and some have not.

They hear what they want to hear. One thing is definitely clear though. When an environmental catastrophe is posing a serious threat, who do political people call for help Definitely they have top notch scientists guiding their decisions. Therefore, science is directly intertwined in a crucial role with politics and policies that are formed. ReferencesCato Policy Report (2005) 'The Science and Politics of Tobacco' Retrieved from: http://ww.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/smoke-pr.html Accessed 12 December 2005New Scientist.Com (2005) 'Special Reports' Retrieved from: http://www.

newscientist.com/channel/earth/climate-change Accesssed 12 December 2005Tuit, James (2005) 'When Science and Politics Collide' Retrieved from: http://www.chronicillnet.org/PGW/tuite/collide.html Accessed 12 December 2005