Physics Today: Bush vs. Kerry on National Science Policies (Q&A)

[Dudley_DUright]

During the 2000 presidential election, in that time before the September 11th terrorist attacks, the stump speeches of George W. Bush and his Democratic opponent, Al Gore, focused on protecting Social Security, saving American education, expanding Medicare, raising or lowering taxes, and readying the military. If science was mentioned at all, it was usually in the context of missile defense, global warming, or Gore's role in creating the internet.

With the exception of the debate over stem−cell research, science remains a background topic in the current campaign. Democratic candidate John Kerry has occasionally highlighted US science policy and used it against President Bush, charging that the administration has put politics and ideology ahead of science. "Let scientists do science again," a headline on the Kerry election website says.

<snip>

In an effort to get the candidates to specifically address questions of interest to the science community, Physics Today has continued a tradition begun in 1976; it asked Bush and Kerry nine questions covering a range of science topics. Their answers, sometimes direct and sometimes vague, show fundamental differences on several key issues.

On missile defense, Bush says his request of $10 billion in FY 2005 for development and deployment of such a system fulfills a pledge he made to the American people. Kerry says we should not be "falsely comforted by an untested and unproven defense system."

On global warming, Kerry talks of both near— and long−term programs to deal with the problem. Bush promotes his "comprehensive climate change strategy." The candidates also address a host of other issues ranging from space exploration to energy policy.

much more...

http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-57/iss-10/p28.html

[GOPBasher]

1. As a physics teacher, I can't be any more scared of another Bush term.

This article doesn't even go into the worst of it. What about the Christian Right and its drive to teach Creation in schools instead of actual science? The Christian Right, which controls the GOP, is an avowed opponent of science.

[Dudley_DUright]

3. You're not the only one with that fear

I share your fear and so does this group of distinguished scientists:

http://scientistsandengineersforchange.org/index.php

which includes some very well known physicists:

http://www.scientistsandengineersforchange.org/founding.php

[GOPBasher]

4. Thanks for the website. I have plenty of people I can send that too.

[Viking12]

2. Some hard-hitting questions

For example,

"Virtually all reputable research in recent years has reinforced the scientific conclusion that global warming is a real and growing crisis caused, at least in part, by the burning of fossil fuels. Do you accept that scientific consensus? Under what circumstances would you regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions?"

As usual B* provides an irrelevant response, cherry-picking NAS material to highlight "uncertainty."

[Dudley_DUright]

5. Self-kick for the afternoon crowd

:kick: