. @jvipondmd asked for a political scientist to weigh in on whether party donations are a factor in an expert providing comment in their field. Others subsequently asked me to comment. Here are my thoughts.
Lets begin with facts. The amount of donations over years is relevant. Based on Elections Alberta, here is what I found:
2021 0
2020 $1k
2019 0 (election)
2018 $3k
2017 $1.2k
2016 $1.2k
2015 $8000 (election)
2014 $1k
2013-2004 0
2021 0
2020 $1k
2019 0 (election)
2018 $3k
2017 $1.2k
2016 $1.2k
2015 $8000 (election)
2014 $1k
2013-2004 0
So $15.5k over eight years. But none in the 2019 election year. I would put a hard core partisan as someone who donated maximum every year and would not skip an election year.
Some may argue that if you donated even $1 to a party than you are inherently biased. But that would rule out tens of thousands of Albertans from being able to comment on public policy.
Donating $4000 to a party or candidate does not mean that you have bought them. Similarly, donating $4000 to a party does not mean that they have bought you.
OK, but what about the photo that has surfaced of Vipond on stage with @SPhillipsAB when she was Minister. Is this proof that Vipond is a NDP partisan? Perhaps. But Murray Edwards was on stage with Notley, does that make him an NDP partisan?
But does any of this take away from Vipond's expertise? Vipond is not an infectious disease expert, but he is an emergency room doctor on the frontlines of COVID. To my mind he is an expert.
Vipond is also not alone. Many other doctors have criticized the end of testing/tracing/isolation. Are they all NDP partisans?
If @MattWolfAB wants to criticize Vipond on the merits of his critique go ahead. But claiming that Vipond is wrong solely because he has occasionally donated money to the NDP is attacking the messenger not the content of his message.
It is possible to criticize govt policy (on any subject) without automatically being part of the partisan opposition. And when that critique is in a person's area of expertise it carries more weight.
If there were doctors defending the end of testing/tracing/isolation who donated money to the UCP would that automatically invalidate their views? No. What matters is the strength of the argument and their degree of expertise.
Although I talk to people from all parties, I do not donate to political parties. To avoid these types of attacks. But Vipond is not a political scientist discussing politics. He is a medical doctor commenting on a health matter. /fin
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