Carl Sagan on the CRU emails.

"One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we've been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. The bamboozle has captured us. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back."~Carl Sagan

I suppose it might be considered poor taste to use and abuse Mr. Sagan, so long after his ability to defend himself has expired. But it now seems that the great Mr. Carl "Billions and Billions" Sagan was himself, bamboozled.

Recently, a thousand emails (or so) have been (ahem) released to the public. These emails chronicle several discussions between various members of the scientific community who concern themselves with the idea of anthropogenic global warming. Both sides of the debate (which was over a while ago, I thought) are represented in the emails, although the pro-"our fault" side has the most interesting moments.

Among them are the admissions that data must be manipulated to fit the global warming script, missing information is replaced with whole-cloth data creation, and that dissenting scientific opinion is to be stifled and silenced.

It is as many of us have feared. The institutions and procedures that have helped to make mankind distinct from other forms of life and assure our ascendancy, have been co-opted by those with an agenda for their own short-term and short-sighted personal gain. The scientific and socratic methods of thought have been held hostage by the jack-booted thuggery of the socialist demands of the environmental activism.

It is strange. Initially men of science, were often viewed with a eye of suspicion. Then after many years of trying to convince people of gravity, a round earth, and germs (and often receiving death as thanks for their insights) scientists seemed to enjoy a position of reverence and prestige. We now view those in the world of science as "experts". Men who "know more than the rest of us". Men who's opinions have been elevated to near "gospel" levels. These men now enjoy positions of power and policy making in our world. Positions that the "common man", like you and I are subject (and subjected) to. It seems now, with the release of these emails, that the old adage of power corrupting absolutely is not confined to politics. It is possible now, that we have come full circle and that perhaps, through their own actions, men of science will once again be viewed with suspicion (although I'm not expecting much in the way of burning them at the stake).

Carl Sagan was a big proponent of global warming theory. He was also, however, a big believer in the scientific method. As much I disagreed with his conclusions (he was also a believer in global cooling in the 1970's), he always seemed to present himself as a man that would "follow the science" no matter where it lead him. In fact, in his landmark work "Comos: A Personal Voyage" he says:

"All assumptions must be critically examined. Arguments from authority are worthless. Whatever is inconsistent with the facts, no matter how fond if it we are, must be discarded or revised."

I would like think that Mr. Sagan would look with distain on these so-called men of science and use this occasion to reexamine or (in his words) "revise" his position on global warming theory (or global climate change or whatever they are calling it this week). But I wonder if, like so many others who have decided to kneel at the altar of "global warming", if he would instead allow himself to continue to be captured by the bamboozle. Would he continue to play the fool or free himself from the bondage placed upon him by unscrupulous "men of science"?

Will we?