Peter Garrett Online Forum

I have to disagree there too: there is a difference between science, and what politicians spout as science. There is also a difference between government-regulation and oversight in medical science and government-funded science. (Perhaps my argument before wasn't clear) I also disagree that science isn't a part of ordinary life. You and I are taking use of science just to have this conversation: indeed, Youtube provides a combination of science and art. And many scientists would argue that science can be an art in and of itself. Is not Da Vinci both an artist and a scientist? It takes innovation and an artist's mind to invent something new, or to see something in a new way (Darwin comes to mind) "The creation of a special cultural elite which can only exist because it is supported by Government erodes the arts by falsifying the larger culture of a nation. Worse than that, it makes art part of the function of Government and fosters the illusion that Government is central to our culture." (Man, we need a quote function on this site... Grant? How about it?) This 'elite' is a problem of the way the system is currently operated, not the system itself. This is like saying that our hospitals are crap because they prefer insured patients to uninsured ones. The doctors may be good, the treatments sound and effective, the service of the hospitals good: but none of that actually affects the insured/uninsured problem. (Ok, my analogy only slightly works, but you get my meaning. The system could be better, which is why asking for input is so necessary) ...Anyway, going a little off topic now, so I'll shut up. And yes, the conversation is fun, even if we don't see eye to eye. Nice to have proper civil discourse for once. Goddess Shadow Puppet on sale at Puppets in Melbourne