The lying game

Some years ago I was threatened by a high-ranking government official as I was beginning research on cost overrun in large public works projects. The official told me in no uncertain terms that I came up with results that reflected badly on his government and its projects he would personally make sure my research funds dried up. I replied that he had just demonstrated that research had to be done and was likely to produce interesting results. The results are now being published and if the official walks his talk, I will never receive another research grant.