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Federal Science Gets More Politicized
amigoro writes to let us know about the noise a group of scientists is making to call attention to Executive Order 13422, going into effect today, that gives political appointees final say regarding science-based federal agency regulations. The Union of Concerned Scientists wrote a letter to two Senate committee chairs urging that questions about this executive order be asked at the confirmation hearings for the nominee to head the Office of Management and Budget. "UCS urged the Senate committee to ask [the nominee] Mr. Nussle how he would ensure that political appointees would not interfere with the work of agency scientists." Late last month the House voted to prohibit the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs from spending federal money on Executive Order 13422. Democrats called the order a "power grab."
because science has become politicized. They started promoting a political agenda by the 80's (I think they actually started doing so from day one, but I'm not sure), by lobbying against SDI. SDI was many things, but it was not a science issue. The UCS starts with a political agenda and then looks for science to back it up. The UCS support for Global Warming is one of the reasons I have been so skeptical of it. I used to give a lot of creditability to UCS, then I noticed that they always oppose Republicans and usually support Democrats (I would say always, but I might have missed the occasional opposition to a Democrat idea).
The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted. James Madison
Here's a thought. Let's amend the constitution so that only people with PhDs in science, engineering, or math can hold office. That's the best way to guarantee that scientists, and only scientists, get to make policy decisions. This is desirable because, after all, scientists are good at science, so they must also be good at setting policy.
Its just niche marketing. Most people on this site are leaning to the left, so by putting out news that appeals to them, no matter how stupid the story may be (for example, the Fox news story from yesterday fits into that category), it strengthens the fan base. Slashdot does have ads, you know.
(And before the accusations start to fly, no, I'm not a Bush fan.)
Your posts seem to indicate that you won't dismiss something if it comes from a right-wing source.
You clearly have two standards of evidence, depending on whether or not one agrees with your idealogy.
Your claim that Bush is acting normally, no different or worse than any other President is asinine. It could only be made by somebody who has let go of all truth, fact and reason, probably via a heavy diet of confirmation bias (made easy by skimming right-wing news sites) and cognitive dissonance.
That said, there is no point in arguing with somebody who is so fucking far gone down the road wacko that they believe Bush isn't a standout in history.
He's overseen the collapse of the dollar, the doubling of the debt, and a ludicrously expensive war that has not met any of the claimed objectives. And yet you claim he is normal.
I am glad the Internet exists. Because without it, I would not believe that the world includes people as incredibly fucking stupid, useless and awful as you.
Fortunately, you're an ever shrinking minority...
I hate how people hold up "Bush only has a 25% approval rating" as a sign that Americans are getting a clue. My outlook (see sig) is that it means that we still have a solid quarter of our population that needs to be sterilized in the name of evolution (most of that 25% probably don't beleive in that, either...)
You're just a right-wing shit in apologist mode.
Trying to pretend that the guy you've supported for the past 6 years isn't a complete and total fuckup, only a little one.
Trying to pretend that it was just one guy who screwed up a little, not an entire party that lined up and marched right the fuck into harms way and lied about it the whole way.
No, your post clearly indicates that you're nothing more than a propagandist.
I guess there's some small chance that you don't think it's a big deal to double the national debt while claiming to be a fiscal conservative, or to start a war that has killed thousands of our troops, injured tens of thousands more, killed hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis, and destroyed the lives and welfare of millions more.
But no, I don't think that's true. I think you're a right-wing apologist, trying to get stupid fucks to believe that Bush was acting alone, and it wasn't really that bad. That or you're a fucking idiot.
Perhaps I was wrong to assume that some minor amount of thought occurred prior to your decision to post one of the dumbest strings of words I have ever seen in print. Perhaps you really are just slightly dumber than dirt.