BUSTED: Trumps expected pick for top USDA scientist is not a scientist

[Judi Lynn]

Source: ProPublica


PRO PUBLICA
12 MAY 2017 AT 21:03 ET


The USDA’s research section studies everything from climate change to nutrition. Under the 2008 Farm Bill, its leader is supposed to serve as the agency’s “chief scientist” and be chosen “from among distinguished scientists with specialized or significant experience in agricultural research, education, and economics.”

But Sam Clovis – who, according to sources with knowledge of the appointment and members of the agriculture trade press, is President Trump’s pick to oversee the section -- appears to have no such credentials.

Clovis has never taken a graduate course in science and is openly skeptical of climate change. While he has a doctorate in public administration and was a tenured professor of business and public policy at Morningside College for 10 years, he has published almost no academic work.

Clovis is better known for hosting a conservative talk radio show in his native Iowa and, after mounting an unsuccessful run for Senate in 2014, becoming a fiery pro-Trump advocate on television.


Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/05/busted-trumps-expected-pick-for-top-usda-scientist-is-not-a-scientist/

[dhol82]

1. Sounds like a typical trump pick

[democratisphere]

2. drumpf has selected an alternative scientist to provide alternative science facts.

Nothing new here. Time to give up eating any USDA inspected meat. As the crazy drumpf world churns.

[CurtEastPoint]

3. This fuckstick lost the Senate to Joni Pigballs. Then he was for Perry. Then Drumpf. Loser.

Two little (snort) peas in a pod.

[Thor_MN]

4. For as much as the pro-ignorance crowd bags on Bill Nye for being "an engineer, not a scientist",

they love them some business people without a clue about science.

[Honeycombe8]

5. You've gotta be kidding. The whole group of govt offices are going to be run by conservative media

types who all think the same and do Trump's bidding. They are not being hired to do those jobs at all. It's a farce.

[CousinIT]

6. Poisoned, unsafe food, abusive big AG and MORE tortured animals.

Greeaaaaat.

[RandomAccess]

7. More nominees to continue to build our kakistocracy -

Kakistocracy is a term meaning a state or country run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens. The word was first coined by English author Thomas Love Peacock in 1829, but was rarely used until the 21st century.

And now we should be using it about every day.

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Thank you! I did not know there was a word for this - never have experienced it before

But that's exactly what this is, not only the least qualified, but those who oppose the very departments they're supposed to be leading/advocating for. Great contribution and welcome to DU! It's great to have you with us!

[BumRushDaShow]

9. And this has been confirmed via those who specialize in "agnotology"

<...>

The word was coined by Stanford University professor Robert N. Proctor, who described it as “culturally constructed ignorance, created by special interest groups to create confusion and suppress the truth in a societally important issue.” It is especially useful to sow seeds of doubt in complex scientific issues by publicizing inaccurate or misleading data.

<...>

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2016-06-27/culturally-constructed-ignorance-wins-the-day

Joe Madison has periodically emphasized this phenomena under the current administration and even Krugman provided examples of its use by the GOP 6 years ago.

The suite of unqualified nominees are purposely chosen to manufacture, nurture, and maintain ignorance.

And welcome to DU!

[lunasun]

10. Conservative talk show host from a pork and corn state Hmmm USDA you say...