TonightYou
Well-Known Member
I remember when I was younger and first heard the term think tank. I was under the assumption that all they did was research and develope policy ideas. Wasn't long after I learned most have a bias and many publish information to confirm with their bias. Usually they are made up of political has beens.
It's one thing to have a bias, and admit the bias when doing research. Particularly when one has financial backers desire a particular stance to a position or ideology.
Not all think tanks are necessarily terrible, some do carry out important research, research the includes methodology, and citations. The organizations such as AEI are hacks who basically write terrible op eds.
Just look at their page and tell me anything even close to objective is being carried out there:
https://www.aei.org
Any right wing ideologue could write for that nonsense.
Now the left isn't excused from such nonsense either. I wouldn't be quoting from the Center of American Progress. While not as egregious as some of the right wing think tanks, they certainly are sloppy. At least they believe in positions based on reality such as climate change but I'd be hesitant based on their record of using them as a source. Plus the political members would draw pause as well.
https://www.americanprogress.org
Now more respectable groups, which still have bias but have a history of avoiding specific policies or necessarily being overtly involved in politics include:
http://www.aspeninstitute.org/about whice focuses on fostering leadership and nonpartisan ideas.
http://www.brookings.edu/about#research-programs/
The Brookings Institute, what can be considered center left but is an organization that definitely does their home work.
http://www.pewresearch.org/about/ Probably one of the best think tanks out there as far as think tanks go. They are non partisan, and really do cutting edge research on demographics, ah fuck it they say it best:
"Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America and the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts. See leadership and staff."
