While governments have no real reason to fear air pumps, electrical machines, or steam engines because of their inherent qualities, they have numerous reasons to fear their creators both collectively and individually, as well as the machinations potential usages for ideals and progressions of those counter opposed to them. New scientific creations are often accompanied by inventive world views that are commonly out of line with the established systems. For example, Steven Johnson cites the difference of energy sources between southern and northern England as a driving factor of one such social change. Technological advancements in the north drove populations to increase and demographics to rapidly change. This produced a technological and economic advantage over other parts of England. The area with the most invention and advancement had no seats in the parliament, and therefore began to resent the government’s structure (Johnson 167,168). This shows why governments fear not only the inventions, but the scientists, as they are the ones who drive change and begin the overarching societal overthrow of aging ideals in favor of fresh ones, fueled by creations such as the air pumps or steam engines.
The most immediate modern example that Johnson’s work can be ascribed to in the current state is that of climate change. Many of those who subscribe to ideas that were founded without scientific basis, and are unwilling to forgoe their notions, are now at risk of social overhaul by the masses of those who are supported by scientific finding. Governmental agencies, namely the EPA, are being forced to construct policies and move out old members who do not support the scientific evidence and ideals that the new movement holds dear to its cause. This is a prime instance of a scientific finding in the modern age that carries with it both social and political consequences, as it is forming groups of those who believe in climate change and those who do not, with implications ranging from domestic job markets to international policy making.