Twenty Nobel Laureates Versus Bush

[pmbryant]

AKA "Restoring Scientific Integrity in Policy Making"

Lots of really big name scientists are about to launch a broad-side against the Bushies' abuses...


From Chris Mooney's blog: http://www.chriscmooney.com/blog.asp#593

Twenty Nobel Laureates Versus Bush

I've been wondering for some time when it would happen, and now it finally has. In news I imagine much of America will soon be reading about, the Union of Concerned Scientists has assembled an immensely star-studded group of scientific luminaries and distinguished former science policymakers to sign a statement entitled "Restoring Scientific Integrity in Policy Making." The document charges the Bush administration with a wholesale betrayal of science of a sort that, the signatories say, greatly exceeds any abuses that occurred under previous administrations.

The signatory list and statement probably aren't available online yet (the embargo on this story ended at 10 am today, so I may be among the first to get it out). However, I'm able to reveal some of the names, as well as what it is that they're actually saying. First off, the Nobel Laureates include big shots like David Baltimore (President of the California Institute of Technology), Leon Lederman (former AAAS president), Harold Varmus (former NIH director and CEO of the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center), and Steven Weinberg (University of Texas-Austin). They're joined by science policy superstars like John H. Gibbons (former Clinton science adviser) and Neal F. Lane (also a former Clinton science adviser and former National Science Foundation director), as well as a number of scientific celebrities like E.O. Wilson and Paul Ehrlich. As for the rest, I can't do justice to all the distinguished names on the list, but suffice it to say that they're some sixty scientific superstars who have chosen to loudly voice their dissatisfaction with the Bush administration. This is big news.

Here's what these leading scientists are angry about. In a not too subtle dig, their statement begins with a 1990 quotation from President George H.W. Bush, stressing government's dependence upon the "impartial perspective of science for guidance." This quote, at the outset of the document, seems deliberately intended to suggests that what follows isn't a partisan statement: After all, not even Republican administrations have abused science the way the current administration has. I actually find this to be a consensus position among scientists today; many of them long for the days of George Bush Sr. as much as they pine for the days of Clinton.

The document itself then begins with a statement of principle concerning the relationship between science and policymaking: "Although scientific input to the government is rarely the only factor in public policy decisions, this input should always be weighed from an objective and impartial perspective to avoid perilous consequences." And that's where our president has fundamentally fallen short: "The administration of George W. Bush has, however, disregarded this principle."

The scientists then go on to explain why. The administration, they say, has regularly manipulated the process by which science informs policy decisions. It has done so by a variety of means: stacking advisory committees, quashing scientific reports, and occasionally misrepresenting scientific knowledge itself. All in all, this represents a new low: "Other administrations have, on occasion, engaged in such practices, but not so systematically nor on so wide a front."

(snip)

[DeepModem Mom]

1. Shame on the Bushite no-nothings, without conscience,

and thanks to the scientists for speaking out.

[DemLikr]

2. Never mind those evil egghead, elitist, educated, thinking types

They don't have a lick of common sense compared to your average red-necked, flag-waving, beer-guzzling, goddammutherfuckingod-fearing Muricans.

:eyes: Koresh, help us.

[Dudley_DUright]

6. evil egghead, elitist, educated, thinking types

That's me! :evilgrin:

Actually as a member of the Union of Concerned Scientist, I am glad we are taking the stand. It is about time.

[BlueEyedSon]

3. kick

[TahitiNut]

4. But, but, but ...

... if Junior believes it, it must be true. After all, his "faith" trumps fuzzy science. :eyes:

[opihimoimoi]

5. Such is DELUSION

It gives "license" to reject science in favor of "fantasy".

We are a deluded people, we elect deluded Presidents. Worse, we allow them to stay in office.

Give Sanity a turn fer Gawds sake.

[Dudley_DUright]

7. Link to Union of Concerned Scientists press release

http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release.cfm?newsID=381

Among the signers are:

Philip W. Anderson*†
David Baltimore*†
Paul Berg*†
Lewis Branscomb
Thomas Eisner*
Jerome Friedman†
Richard Garwin*
Walter Kohn*†
Neal Lane
Leon Lederman*†
Mario Molina†
W.H.K. Panofsky*
F. Sherwood Rowland†
J. Robert Schrieffer*†
Richard Smalley†
Harold E. Varmus†
Steven Weinberg*†
E.O Wilson*

* National Medal of Science
† Nobel laureate

(some real heavy hitters in this list!)