Politicizing Science

grape jelly writes "A new website has been created by Rep. Harry A. Waxman, of California, by the name of Politics and Science that accuses the current administration of intentionally manipulating scientific data in order to further its ideology. The site was created as a result of a congressional report (pdf) request by Rep. Waxman, available on his site. A NYTimes article is also available about the report with a response from the administration."

Comments

this is something new?

[elmegil]

Seems to me that the government has been manipulating and misrepresenting "scientific" data for a long time. Let's see, "marijuana makes you violent" came in the 40's as I recall, and there are plenty of other examples. This is nothing new with this administration.

Re:this is something new?

[dirtmerchant]

The problem lies in the repercussions.

"marijuana makes you violent" came in the 40's

worst case scenario: Mass ignorance and some people get thrown in jail.

Global warming is a myth

worst case scenario: The planet becomes uninhabitable.

Inevitable

[4of12]

All information will be politicized, not just what comes from scientific investigation.

The only defense for scientists is to continue to pursue the truth, postulate hypotheses, and to ask questions and get answers about the validity of those hypotheses.

Honestly, what this world needs is less politics in science and more science in politics.

Politics is so heavily weighted in emotion and personality that I hold out little hope of rational and critical thought making any more than a stage appearance in government.