Scientific Uncertainty as Political Aggression: A Manifesto for Those Who Value Science and Want to Save It from State and Corporate Control

Authors

• Stephen DeMeo, CUNY Hunter CollegeFollow

Document Type

Book

Publication Date

Fall 9-1-2026

Abstract

A manifesto is an opportunity to publicly express strongly held beliefs about a topic that is personally important to an author. It is analytical as it is creative. “Scientific Uncertainty as Political Aggression” is a manifesto that intersects science and politics. It urges those interested in science to examine two different but related topics: scientific uncertainty in measurement—what it is, how it is determined, why it’s important— and the magnification of uncertainty through legal and linguistic tactics used by right-wing politicians and politically supported corporations.

For some time now, the Republican Establishment has cast excessive doubt on scientific findings through the use of aggressive political jargon such as charges of “junk” and “fake” science, the inappropriate calls for “quality data,” “sound science,” and most recently for a “gold standard of science” by the Trump Administration.

Overall, these attacks represent deliberate efforts by powerful interests to shift science from a successful, decentralized, self-regulating system favored by scientists to a state-controlled structure that benefits corporations, is excessively regulated, and often ignores evidence-based arguments.  Using many environmental and health examples, these harmful, often concealed attacks cause injustices that impact not only scientists but society as a whole.

By highlighting uncertainty in science and its exploitation at political and corporate levels, this manifesto passionately asks readers to recognize the importance of supporting American Science free from egregious state and corporate control and to consider education as a counterpoised, beneficial, long-term solution to this injustice.