In a way, the academics are involved in an intellectual conspiracy. Austrian economists are marginalized because they generally believe the government should do nothing in the face of economic crises. Keynesians think the government should spend money to create jobs and use the fed as a "steering wheel for the economy." Who do you think politicians choose for policy advice? Keynesians believe paying a man (with governemnt money) to dig a ditch and fill it in is better than for that man to be unemployed.