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Science Shows That Some Senators Aren’t Qualified
The Bottom Line of the University of California - Santa Barbara ^ | January 21, 2015 | Gwen Wu

Posted on 01/22/2015 9:17:50 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

A new Congress means change—change in the way that votes swing, legislature is pushed past, and committees are formed. With the 2014 midterm elections, the Republican Party took control of Congress, and subsequently, new senators were named to positions in congressional committees.

Recently, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R.) was named chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Science and Space, while Fla Sen. Marco Rubio (R.) was named chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard. Interestingly enough, neither seem to have the education or beliefs necessary to head such influential positions.

Cruz is infamous for his 21-hour and 19-minute-long speech that led to the 2013 government shutdown, affecting all federal offices and agencies, leaving many temporarily without work. One agency affected was NASA which, you guessed it, is one of the agencies under Cruz’s subcommittee. The Texas senator is an immense advocate for NASA’s success, despite action to the contrary.

“One of the problems with the Obama administration is that it has degraded NASA. It has degraded for space exploration, degraded manned exploration because the Obama administration has undervalued that and shifted to funding other priorities,” Cruz stated. “It shifted the funding to global warming pursuits rather than carry out NASA’s core mission.”

Cruz vehemently denies that global warming exists, claiming that “there should have been warming over the last 15 years. It hasn’t happened.” His claims could be damaging to NASA research, as the space agency recently launched five new projects investigating global climate change.

His fellow senator Rubio claims that climate change and human activity are not linked, going so far as to say “I am not a scientist” when asked about the environment. Rubio’s statement indicates that someone lacking interest in science will be in charge of legislature and funding for major aspects of research and economic activity in the American science industry, which is concerning. Their appointments could mean less funding will be allotted to science and tech research fields, which, as Cruz has ironically also said, is absolutely critical if the U.S. wants to remain a world power and leader.

With their appointments to the congressional subcommittees, the government is politicizing science with little regard for how this could damage relevant legislature. Two senators denying climate change (key in the area of environmental study) would exercise great influence over major organizations that conduct research to combat the detrimental effects to the climate. They may make decisions to give funding to more “worthy” pursuits as a result of their beliefs. Politicizing science would be incredibly ironic in this case; science would be subject to their corporate investments and partisanship rather than remaining objective and neutral in its findings. Their outspokenness on the lack of climate change and “so-called scientific theories” concerning such could have a dizzying effect on the American consciousness about such things.

Nowadays, we value and prioritize science as a field of study—more money is allotted to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) learning than any other avenue of specialized education. Much of the capital in the domestic and international economy stems from tech startups and research, so we can’t afford to reduce funding or attention to these topics without risking falling behind as a superpower. If we reduce funding, or if Sen. Cruz or Sen. Rubio use their influence to promote the idea that climate change is blasphemy or irrelevant, we run the risk of increasing damage to our environment, education, and economy. While no plans have been created to do so, it is possible that their beliefs will persuade Congress to stop funding such programs.

Perhaps the populace has no direct say in who gets appointed to these subcommittees, but it’s important to think about their consequences nonetheless, especially at a science- and research-oriented institution such as ours. Hopefully in the future, these committees’ chairs will be filled with properly educated senators.


TOPICS: Florida; Texas; Issues; U.S. Senate
KEYWORDS: climatechange; cruz; rubio; tedcruz
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So a college freshman at a state university who was in high school a year ago doesn't think a man who graduated magna cum laude from arguably the best law school in the world is qualified to run a Senate subcommittee? Hilarious!
1 posted on 01/22/2015 9:17:50 AM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

What a laff riot!


2 posted on 01/22/2015 9:22:00 AM PST by gr8eman (Don't waste your energy trying to understand commies. Use it to defeat them!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Typical prog thought.

We need a class of academic rulers to make the right decisions for us. /s


3 posted on 01/22/2015 9:24:09 AM PST by cripplecreek ("For by wise guidance you can wage your war")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

They’re running scared.


4 posted on 01/22/2015 9:24:21 AM PST by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Why dont we just stop funding any scientific research?

These guys dont like congress being able to deiced how to spend the people’s money, then these guys can go beg for donations.

If there science is so good, then they should have no problem.


5 posted on 01/22/2015 9:24:43 AM PST by VanDeKoik
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

These little idiots would love to have a dictatorship of the Left.


6 posted on 01/22/2015 9:24:49 AM PST by Apparatchik (If you find yourself in a confusing situation, simply laugh knowingly and walk away - Jim Ignatowski)
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To: gr8eman
neither seem to have the education or beliefs . . .[Emphasis added]

Note that for this author, "beliefs" are right up there with education in importance. They know the right answer already - science just provides them an excuse.
7 posted on 01/22/2015 9:27:05 AM PST by Phlyer
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Hopefully in the future, these committees’ chairs will be filled with properly educated senators.

There are the key words. I don't think they are talking about a school education, either.

8 posted on 01/22/2015 9:29:50 AM PST by bubbacluck (America 180)
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To: stars & stripes forever
They’re running scared.

Are they?
I don't know — the elitists seem to have a stranglehold on power at this point in time… and let us not forget that those in power are disinclined to relinquish it.

9 posted on 01/22/2015 9:30:27 AM PST by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Neither are some presidents. But I won’t expect academia to admit it.


10 posted on 01/22/2015 9:36:31 AM PST by skeeter
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To: OneWingedShark

The grassroots must rise and stand with a true conservative or America, as we know it, is over.

Latest example of the elitist stranglehold on power: the no votes on late-term abortion.

An impossibility? Ask yourself, what would the Founding Fathers do?


11 posted on 01/22/2015 9:38:02 AM PST by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Rubio’s statement indicates that someone lacking interest in science will be in charge of legislature and funding for major aspects of research and economic activity in the American science industry, which is concerning.

Dear, dear...

Gwen Wu apparently does not understand the difference between "legislature" and "legislation", which is concerning.

And, her unintentionally comical but apt description of "the American science industry" is heartwarming (out of the mouths of babes and all that).

Foolish progressives will be foolish. LOL.

12 posted on 01/22/2015 9:40:34 AM PST by Zeppo ("Happy Pony is on - and I'm NOT missing Happy Pony")
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To: Zeppo

” . . ..someone lacking interest in science . . “ ?????????????

I could not find evidence that Sen. Rubio lacks interest in science.
Suborning science in the interest of a political agenda is not nice.


13 posted on 01/22/2015 9:55:19 AM PST by Elsiejay
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I keep seeing “science” bitches all over my FB and Twitter about this nonsense. What a bunch of butthurt babies.


14 posted on 01/22/2015 9:56:54 AM PST by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The said college freshman is demanding that everyone worship the same idol that he does.


15 posted on 01/22/2015 9:57:12 AM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Haha. Just which two Dem. Senators vacating these committee posts are stellar examples of science experts, anyway?


16 posted on 01/22/2015 9:59:42 AM PST by Wiser now (Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
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To: Future Snake Eater

These are the same people that have no comment when a US representative Shela Jackson Lee ( D ) asked Nasa if they could drive the Mars Rover over to see the US Flag. Or some other dolt ( D ) comments that an island might flip over due to too many people being there.


17 posted on 01/22/2015 10:02:51 AM PST by DanielRedfoot (Creepy Ass Cracker)
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To: Wiser now
Exactly! I looked up the dems - no scientists, not even a science major in their education. The closest thing to qualified is that Bill Nelson when through training and went up in the shuttle as a “mission specialist” - because we need lawyers in space.
18 posted on 01/22/2015 10:04:27 AM PST by NativeSon ( Grease the floor with Crisco when I dance the Disco)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

The older I get,the less tolerant I become with children offering their opinions.
Come back girl when you grow up-say in 20 years.


19 posted on 01/22/2015 10:05:08 AM PST by Farmer Dean (stop worrying about what they want to do to you,start thinking about what you want to do to them)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
Bless her little heart.

This barely-decipherable juvenile garbage is what passes for critical thinking in our universities now? Her parents and every teacher in her past life should be slapped.

Like another FReeper always says at the end of their posts - pray America is waking up.

20 posted on 01/22/2015 10:07:16 AM PST by liberty_lvr (Drill Gaia like a 3 am prom date)
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