The battle over science in the Trump administration

[janx]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to roll back environmental regulations and change the playing field for the fossil-fuel industry.

His administration's actions over its first six months have followed that lead, including what many scientists say is a full-fledged battle against research and facts.
Last week the twitter account for the Department of Energy tweeted out an op-ed written by a scholar at the Cato Institute, a right-leaning think tank, with the headline: "In the fight between Rick Perry and climate scientists -- He's winning"

At the Interior Department, a climate scientist who has shared his thoughts on global warming was recently reassigned -- to accountant. At the Agriculture Department, the man Trump has chosen to head science as undersecretary of agriculture for research, education and economics has no formal hard sciences background. At the Environmental Protection Agency, where the administration has successfully delayed a number of regulations drafted under President Barack Obama, Administrator Scott Pruitt is aiming to get more industry voices into the scientific process.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/05/politics/trump-battle-science-epa-energy-climate/index.html

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Long article, well worth your time.

[dalton99a]

1. Pesky scientists and their stubborn refusal to acknowledge alternative facts.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. I see these reports and I think of Easter Island.

It once was a lovely, well-wooded place. But over time the inhabitants cut down all of the trees, causing a loss of habitat and animals. So you ask yourself, "What were they thinking? Why cut down every single tree?"

We can't possibly know for sure what they were thinking, but Easter Island is a microcosm stand-in for the planet as a whole and what's going to happen in the future.

[not fooled]

3. Oh, yes

We are seeing the logical outcome of capitalism play out: extraction of natural resources to the point of exhaustion or collapse (that's a quote courtesy of Chris Hedges).

These predators don't know how to stop--in their relentless drive for profits, they will keep going until there's nothing left. The government is the only entity powerful enough to counter their actions, which is why they want to destroy it.

The dump admin's agenda is nakedly transparent: wreck the Federal Government so that industry runs it all.

Future generations will revile them when they leave a despoiled planet. But the sociopaths running things don't care.

[Progressive dog]

4. The logical outcome is the result of people

and governments of all political philosophies, not capitalism. Soviet Russia, Communist China, semi-socialist India have all chosen development and people over the environment.
There is no magic wand.

[red dog 1]

9. + 1

[DemoTex]

5. There is a total eclipse happening on 8/21, directly over my house. For 162 seconds. How do we know?

I guess Jesus predicted it.

[Maxheader]

6. Most deadly

part of trumps admin...denying
global warming and restricting
science....

[Doug the Dem]

7. The only Battle Over Climate in THIS Admin,

Is whether the screwed-up atmosphere means the Devil is attacking us or Goddddddddd is punishing us for our sins.

[shadowmayor]

8. If Rick Perry is "winning"

Then finally our "President" has told the truth. I'm tired of winning!

[red dog 1]

10. If Rick Perry is winning, then we are losing....all of us!

K&R

Wasn't Rick Perry the idiot who wanted to do away with the Dept. of Energy?
(and when asked what govt. agencies he would do away with, he couldn't even remember the Dept. of Energy)


These people are nuts!

[riversedge]

11. Each day we learn more of how Trump and his cabinet are taking us backwards.