Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Is this the state of academics today?

It might be tempting to dismiss this post as an exception.  The problem is the academic in question was not some fringe, quasi-academic: he is a Fulbright scholar and a Senior one at that.  He is a scholar pontificating on environmental issues that are way beyond his area of expertise but his also a scholar able to have his views published, lending them a sheen of authority not validated by the substance of his remarks.
 
What chances would someone without a Fulbright Fellowship have of similar access and standing?  Oh, yes, that's right, a TV or Hollywood celebrity.  Coming soon, the Paris Hilton climate report...