Re: Scientific American Article On "Market" Economists

> >http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=3Dthe-economist-has-no-clothes
>
> > Using scientific arguments to take out "market" economists is kind of
> > like using a cannon to kill a fly.
>
> > A science background is nice but you don't need one to discredit
> > "market" economists.
>
> > Just ask them a simple question anyone can understand.
>
> > "Does free speech precede each and every free trade?"
>
> > The answer is a self evident truth yet they will all claim they are
> > too dumb to answer the question.
>
> > They'll suddenly not know the definition of "free trade" or "free
> > speech."
>
> > Why?
>
> > Because they will all openly admit they are too dumb.
>
> > The problem with the "I'm a moron in my field" dodge is =EF=BF=BD. . .
> > well . . . you lose your credibility in your field.
>
> > It's gauche to use a cannon to kill a fly and therefore, the
> > _Scientific American_ article is in bad taste.

=2E . .

> All professional scientists are inclined to be propagandists for
> whoever's paying them,

Most physical scientists who are only getting paid by a university
have no conflicts of interest.

They can say what they think is true and it won't change their income
one way or another.

> given that no "scientific" method exists for
> distingui****ng valid from prejudiced interpretations of data. =EF=BF=BD

In physical science interpretations or theories require reproducible
results as well as logic.

Of course, the "market" economists don't need to be criticized about
their reproducible results;  they can be criticized from a purely
logical POV.

> We have
> controlled experiments, but not controlled interpretations of
> experiments.

There's no thought police but if you persist in saying something
absurd, you won't get any sup****t from reputable physical scientists.

> But, because of the huge money stakes involved in business,
> professional economists make no pretension whatsoever to objectivity
> or science. =EF=BF=BD

Only recently had they abandoned ****p.


Bret Cahill