Politicization Of Science in the Bush Administration: Science-As-PR

[Steelangel]

Full title: The Politicization Of Science in the Bush Administration: Science-As-Public Relations

Very interesting... I think DU'ers here should've read this article. This article included 30 different sources so check these out when reading the article.


Dylan Otto Krider

There’s a war going on—and not just the one in Iraq. This conflict may not get as much media play, but it could have just as great an impact on our safety, national prestige, and long-term economic health. It is a war over the integrity of science itself, and the casualties are everywhere: career scientists and enforcement officials are resigning en masse from government agencies, citing an inability to do their jobs due to what they see as the ruthless politicization of science by the Bush administration. Bruce Boler, Marianne Horinko, Rich Biondi, J. P. Suarez and Eric Schaeffer are among those who have resigned from the EPA alone. In a letter to The New York Times, former EPA administrator Russell Train, who worked for both Nixon and Ford, wrote, “I can state categorically that there never was such White House intrusion into the business of the EPA during my tenure.” 1 Government meddling has reached such a level that European scientists are voicing concerns that Bush may not merely be undermining U.S. dominance in sciences, but global research as well. 2

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) recently published the results of an investigation into the administration’s misuse of science called “Scientific Integrity in Policymaking,” with a letter signed by over 60 leading scientists, including 20 Nobel Laureates. 3 President Bush’s science adviser Dr. John Marburger III’s response was hardly reassuring. 4 Part of Marburger’s defense was to use the common tactic to delay action by calling for “more research,” while in other cases he used verbal sleight of hand to avoid addressing the actual charge. For instance, when the National Cancer Institute’s web site was altered to suggest there was a link between abortion and breast cancer Marburger described the change as only a routine update. What actually troubled the UCS was that the findings of established science had been removed in favor of language that promoted the lonely crusade of Dr. Joel Brind.

More.... http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic10-08-04.html

[cornermouse]

1. Business as usual.

One of many reasons why we need to get Bush out in November.

I'll add the fact that people always claim the democrats invade privacy, try to run people's private lives. In my opinion, most of the time democrats tend to provide options which may or may not be pursued by the individual. Neo-cons who are controlling the republican party at this time DO want to "oversee and guide" people's private lives. They call it morality and think that it gives them the right to intrude into all sorts of areas which have little or nothing at all to do with morality.

[annabanana]

2. The threat goes across the scientific board...................

The gift shop at the Grand Canyon HAS to stock anti-scientific, pro creation "science" books about the creation of that great hole in the ground. (hint: they don't believe that the Colorado River had anything to do with it)

(The park's geologists' heads are exploding.)

[lil-petunia]

3. The bushistas are actually proud of their anti-science tactics

There was a news conference in Chicago, heck, a year or so ago? I forgot who it was. They explained that for too long, science has been left in the hands of scientists. It was time to put society's beliefs in control over research and development.

Let's see. Stalin tried to control farming by fiat. His corn vs. wheat experiments helped kill off, what, 10 million Ukies?

How dare we expect science to be based on rational thought! If your basic, unread, illiterate, brain dead, misogynist, anti-science freeper can't understand the concept, it can never be true! For them, the idea of special relativity, the strong force, quantum chromodynamics or a multi-dimensional universe is explained by one concept.

Gawd is in charge, all that other stuff is just a waste of money.

man, these people piss me off.

[scarletlib]

4. so true

these yahoos will destroy our ability as a nation to compete in the all important science and technology fields. I have heard that reputable scientists are already leaving the U.S. to work in other countries. Foreign scientists are no longer looking to come and work in our great (maybe late great) research universities.

Talk about dumbing down a nation.

[jdj]

8. I'd like it called pseudo-science, because it's not science.

And they already fired the head of one of those depts, because she spoke out, she was one of the first casualties of this administration. It's getting so bad in this country that the only two political parties left are going to be Republicans and Whistleblowers.

[Steelangel]

5. **kick**

[Steelangel]

6. btw I just contacted Johnkerry.com thru their email.. I hope

Kerry can use it against Bush in 3rd debate on domestic issue. I don't think many people are aware of what * admin did with our science and such.

[Steelangel]

7. ***kick***

[Steelangel]

9. ***kick***

[Steelangel]

10. ***kick***

[Steelangel]

11. ***bump***

La la la la

[Steelangel]

12. ***bump***

[Steelangel]

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[Steelangel]

14. ***bump***

[annabanana]

15. Big article in today's Newsday about this

from the front page:

From the front page of today's Newsday:

WASHINGTON - Drawing from corporations, inside-the-beltway law and lobbying firms, and think tanks, President George W. Bush has assembled the most cohesive and conservative administration in decades, according to presidential experts and a Newsday analysis of political appointments.

While President Ronald Reagan was more traditionally conservative, Bush has succeeded in making more consistently conservative, and business friendly, appointments from top to bottom, according to presidential experts.

"The Bush people have vetted every candidate for every agency, down to the least important appointee to the least important agency," said presidential appointment expert Paul Light, a public service professor at New York University and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

"They ask the hard questions," Light said. "If a candidate does not believe in their agenda, he is not going to be appointed."


http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/nation/ny-usap...

[cavanaghjam]

16. Not surprising,

Bush sees himself as God's messenger, the message as gospel to be accepted on faith; and all followers had better be disciples.

[Steelangel]

17. Hmm

all I got is 'expired' page :(

[Memekiller]

18. Thanks for the post...