- Scientific Method: Science á la Lysenko …
- Clean Sweap: Some things just vanish …
Back to Main
February 12, 2005
Billmon: 02/12
Comments
The Politicization Of Science in the Bush Administration: Science-As-Public Relations
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….”
Skeptic
Political Science, Bush Style Brian Newkirk
Scientific advisers must pass ideological litmus tests.
… “This conjures up an Orwellian strategy of political control by strangling research. It explains the apparent solution cooked up by Bush’s political “mad scientists.” They seem bent on removing the nucleus of objective scientific advice from the federal government, then excising the genes for impartiality, expertise, and scientific credibility, and finally replacing them with cloned copies of the president’s religious ideals and political fealties. (…) What’s striking about this gambit is its boldness. Since the emergence of managerial government after World War II …”
Blueprint
Lysenko was himself a scientist (if an illiterate one.) His control of Soviet biology and agriculture was a truly spectacular example of an astute, individual, scientific scam. These scams work because of the wishful thinking, gullibility, lack of knowledge of the public and/or leaders (amongst others).
The present US Gvmt. is a different case and raises the question of the relationship between Science and Ethics, which has been explored in the case of Nazi Science.
I am not drawing a parallel between gas chambers, eugenics, etc. (just one aspect of Nazi Science) and Bush, the comparison is not apt – however the questions are the same.
Posted by: Blackie | Feb 12 2005 11:55 utc | 1
There is a good article at Common Dreams or The Nation by Will Greider aclled “The New Colossus.” It talks about Calpers and how lrage state pension fund managers are holding coporations accountable.
His take is like I’ve said here. These corporations that these workers are investing in are turning around and screwing the workers. These funds should demand that if these pension funds are investing in corporations, they must conduct their business in the US and create jobs here. If all of these pension funds pulled money from traderous corps, their stock would go down and borrowing cost go’s up.
Its a good read. Two books of Greiders that are must reads are “Secrets of the Temple” about the fed reserve and “Who will tell the People: the betrayal of American Democracy.” Very good books.
Posted by: jdp | Feb 12 2005 13:35 utc | 2
@jdp – thats exactly why Arnold is working to kill Calpers.
Imagine workers contolling pension funds controlling corporations. Thats pure socialism. No repub can support that.
I agree b, the rethugs expouse democracy, but really hate it unless your a bug campaign donor. Sorry my comment was posted here, I meant it to be on the open thread.
I believe Arnold could be a one termer or be so hamstringed by the dems nothing he wants will get done. Go dems.
Posted by: jdp | Feb 12 2005 15:39 utc | 4
b – yet another Billmon post for this date: “Law of the Land”. Do you want to update your post here?
Posted by: Jérôme | Feb 12 2005 22:00 utc | 5