Posted on 04/19/2004 9:07:45 AM PDT by Roos_Girl
The Bush administration routinely suppresses, censors and distorts science on environmental and other issues, according to a major new report by a group of scientists.
The scientists make the claim in a 38-page report in which they urge citizens, Congress and other scientists to push to "reverse this dangerour trend" and "restore scientific integrity to federal policymaking."
"The report really coduments what we see as a disturbing and unprecedented pattern of misuse and misrepresentation of science by the Bush administration," said Kevin Knobloch, president of the 65,000-member Union of Concerned Scientists.
The report claims that federal scientsts are muzzled, advisory panels are stacked with people who push the Bush administration's political agenda, and scientific findings are manipulated or ignored. "The report documents many cases where the integrity of science was compromised," said Knobloch.
Across a broad range of issues - from childhood lead poisoning and mercury emissions to climate change - the administration is distorting and censoring scientific findings that contradict its policies, says the union.
White House officials dispute the claims. White House science adviser John Marburger said the report is disappointing because it makes sweeping generalizations about policy in this administration that are based on a random selection of incidents and issues.
But the scientists disagree. "The administration has disbanded scientific advisory committees, and fired scientists who are highly respected in their fields and replaced them with those hand-picked by the administration," said Knobloch.
The American public should be concerned because it places its trust in the government as an honest broker of scientific information.
"I think the American public has a right to expect that its leadership, whether it's the President of Congress, has unvarnished access to the best science," said Knobloch.
"What we are seeing is that this administration has been trying to change the conclusions of that science or suppress it so the decision-makers are not getting access to the best science."
One example is the issue of pollution from power plants, Knobloch said. The scientists conluded there was a delay in a report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on mercury pollution from some power plants. "Congress is trying to make the best decisions on power plant pollution and they were not given access to the most up-to-date scientific information," Knobloch said.
EPA itself came under fire for issuing a report assuring New Yorkers that the debris-laden air in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks was safe to breathe. It was not until August 2003 that the agency acknowledged that it had issued the report, at the White Houses's behest, before adequately monitoring air quality for contaminants such as PCBs, soot and dioxin.
The union has launched a campaign to stop the "misuse" of science before it damages the nation's health, safety and environment. "We are calling on Congress to fully investigate this matter," Knobloch said.
\Hy*poc"ri*sy\ (h[i^]*p[o^]k"r[i^]*s[y^]), n.; pl. Hypocrisies (-s[i^]z). [OE. hypocrisie, ypocrisie, OF. hypocrisie, ypocrisie, F. hypocrisie, L. hypocrisis, fr. Gr. "ypo`krisis the playing a part on the stage, simulation, outward show, fr. "ypokr`nesqai to answer on the stage, to play a part; "ypo` under + kri`nein to decide; in the middle voice, to dispute, contend. See Hypo-, and Critic.] The act or practice of a hypocrite; a feigning to be what one is not, or to feel what one does not feel; a dissimulation, or a concealment of one's real character, disposition, or motives; especially, the assuming of false appearance of virtue or religion; a simulation of goodness.
| Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc. |
Good quote!
LOL, exactly my thoughts. What a bunch of hypocrites. The sad truth is though, that science is way too politicized by the scientists. We expect politicians to politicize everything, but science today is largely driven by scientists with a political agenda. Take the global warming crowd.....please.
Dang. That sums it up. Might as well close the thread!
IMHO, science is at a important crossroad. On the one hand, there are many scientists who eschew all attempts to bring ideology and politics to the table. On the other hand, there are many scientists who do just that.
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