waveman comments on Some Heuristics for Evaluating the Soundness of the Academic Mainstream in Unfamiliar Fields - Less Wrong

73 Post author: Vladimir_M 15 February 2011 09:17AM

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Comment author: waveman 17 January 2012 09:38:20PM *  0 points [-]

You are right. However it is worth noting the powerful forces that are arrayed against any researcher who threatens powerful economic interests.

Given how much research is funded by the government, it is very possible for those with the right connections to punish those who do not sing the right song.

The story of trans fats is a good case in point, well documented in Gary Taubes's book. Good Calories Bad Calories.