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Science and politics: a dangerous mix
Christian Science Monitor ^ | 9/27/05 | Gregory M. Lamb

Posted on 09/27/2005 12:36:32 PM PDT by Crackingham

"The Republican War on Science" lives up to its incendiary title. The book will undoubtedly raise hackles among conservatives and spawn sharp-tongued counterattacks. But the real test of its efficacy may be whether or not it persuades independents and moderate Republicans that without a new approach toward science America is headed for what the author calls "economic, ecological, and social calamity."

As a good polemicist, Chris Mooney, a journalist who specializes in writing about science and politics, knows to protect his argument by first making two concessions.

First, not all Republicans have been antiscience. Teddy Roosevelt was a great early conservationist. Dwight Eisenhower was the first president to recognize that the White House needed a science adviser. Ronald Reagan's surgeon general, C. Everett Koop, weighed scientific evidence "dispassionately" on subjects like AIDS and the health effects of abortion and declared, "I am the nation's surgeon general, not the nation's chaplain."

Even the first President Bush was largely regarded by scientists as "a friend," Mr. Mooney says. And today, a few GOP mavericks like Sen. John McCain speak the truth on issues like global warming.

Secondly, Mooney wisely - albeit briefly - acknowledges that liberals have also sometimes twisted science for their own political ends. Some of the alarm over genetically modified foods has exceeded what science shows; animal rights activists have argued that animal testing isn't necessary when most scientists disagree; and some Democratic politicians have overstated the likelihood that stemcell research will produce quick cures.

But these transgressions, Mooney says, pale in comparison with the breathtaking audacity of Mr. Bush's "New Right" in its cynical manipulation of science. In a kind of Orwellian newspeak, they label conventional science as "junk science" and seek to replace it with what they call "sound science" - in other words, questionable, fringe science that conveniently props up the interests of big industry and conservative Christians.

All sides might agree that science should inform policy, not make it. Other considerations may trump it. But what irks Mooney is when, in his eyes, science is distorted to defend a policy.

In this regard, Mooney contrasts the Clinton and Bush administrations in their approaches to needle-exchange programs for drug addicts. Numerous reputable scientific studies show that needle-exchange programs reduce the transmission of AIDS without encouraging drug abuse. The Clinton administration acknowledged these findings, but simply decided to ignore them, apparently unwilling to take an unpopular political stance.

The Bush administration also opposed needle-exchange programs but "twisted the science," Mooney says, by insisting that some scientists doubted the findings. Yet when the press followed up, the scientists cited by the White House said they had no such doubts.

A key GOP tactic, Mooney says, has been "magnifying uncertainty" - finding a few dissenting voices on the scientific fringe and calling for "more research" to forestall action - a tactic the tobacco industry used for decades, he says.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: chriscmooney; science
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1 posted on 09/27/2005 12:36:36 PM PDT by Crackingham
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To: Crackingham

I've always felt that our nation's epitaph will be, "Drowned in a tidal wave of ignorance."


2 posted on 09/27/2005 12:42:31 PM PDT by Zeroisanumber
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To: Crackingham
a few GOP mavericks like Sen. John McCain speak the truth on issues like global warming.

CROCK alert! CROCK alert!

Any time anybody says something about knowing THE truth about something as complicated as global climate, he has an agenda behind his back.

3 posted on 09/27/2005 12:44:13 PM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: Crackingham

PING for later reading.


4 posted on 09/27/2005 12:45:10 PM PDT by WOSG (http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com/)
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To: PatrickHenry

this one looks like a keeper


5 posted on 09/27/2005 12:47:10 PM PDT by js1138 (Great is the power of steady misrepresentation.)
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To: Crackingham; Izzy Dunne
Crock alert is right.

Republicans and conservatives have always believed in and supported science and tech more than libs.

The libs came up with the mantra-like plaint of "we spend so much money to send a man to the moon when our own people don't have enough to eat" blah blah blah stuf.

There are a number here on FR, and I think Crackhead is one of them, who post only the same ol same ol propaganda that Bush and his supporters are ignorant superstitious rubes (or worse).

6 posted on 09/27/2005 12:49:20 PM PDT by tallhappy (Juntos Podemos!)
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To: Crackingham
the breathtaking audacity of Mr. Bush's "New Right" in its cynical manipulation of science.

Somebody's smoking something.

7 posted on 09/27/2005 12:49:43 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
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To: PatrickHenry

Ping.


8 posted on 09/27/2005 12:50:59 PM PDT by Junior (Some drink to silence the voices in their heads. I drink to understand them.)
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To: Crackingham

Just another shill for infinite federal grants for their prized "scientific" gurus. All the "global warming" scientists want is to be bought off with much bigger federal grants than they get now.

The fact is that scientific research is stifled by the endless scheming to get federal money.

Academic prestige and power consists of being a "rainmaker", getting lots of federal grant money, and very little else except preaching about "multiculturalism makes us strong".

The existing situation is probably hopelessly corrupt. Only very serious pruning may save the rootstock.


9 posted on 09/27/2005 12:51:16 PM PDT by Iris7 ("Let me go to the house of the Father." Last words of His Holiness John Paul II)
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To: js1138
this one looks like a keeper

I find the name of the source ironic:

Christian Science Monitor

Three-for-one moonbat pun:

1. The article implies Republicans (in thrall to the Religious Right) is against Science, so there is a surface pun about "Christian Science".

2. There is a second pun about "Christian Science Monitor"--are they Christians who are monitoring Science, or are the publishers monitoring Christian pseudoscience? (*)

3. To top it all off, "Christian Science" is neither doctrinally Christian, nor scientific.

Ahhh, the power of words.

Cheers!

(*) E.g. Christian 'pseudoscience' might by YEC and Leftist 'pseudoscience' might be Kyoto treaty.

10 posted on 09/27/2005 12:57:27 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: grey_whiskers

The Monitor has long been regarded as a pretty good newspaper. I'm not a mormon, but they are the only ones producing good music on TV.


11 posted on 09/27/2005 1:00:49 PM PDT by js1138 (Great is the power of steady misrepresentation.)
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To: js1138
The Monitor has long been regarded as a pretty good newspaper.

They do seem to have more problems with the FAX machine connecting other MSM outlets to the DNC, if you catch my drift.

I was just having a good pun...

12 posted on 09/27/2005 1:12:14 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: Crackingham
That's odd. I had the impression that it was the left that was "politicizing science" by using poorly-reviewed and disputed research to attack capitalism, America, Republicans, and George Bush on (a) "global warming" and (b) embryonic stem cells, to mention just two of a fairly long list.

I guess when the left does it, it's "raising questions" and "creating awareness." When the right responds, well, then it's "politicizing science."

More and more the left is looking like "The Emperor's New Clothes." A bunch of third-rate useful idiots being led by pseudo-intellectuals, the whole lot of them blissfully unaware of how foolish they look.

(steely)

13 posted on 09/27/2005 1:15:19 PM PDT by Steely Tom (Fortunately, the Bill of Rights doesn't include the word 'is'.)
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To: grey_whiskers

The so called "Christian" Science Monitor is more akin to Scientology world view than the Christian world view. Their name is a misnomer. They are neither represent true Christianity nor true science. Semi-pagan leftists, their theology similar to the Unitarians.


14 posted on 09/27/2005 1:15:34 PM PDT by sasportas
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To: Junior; js1138

You guys really think this is worth a ping to the list? It's just an article promoting a book. I'll deploy the list if you want me to, because (think Lawrence of Arabia) ... I am a river to my people.


15 posted on 09/27/2005 1:17:29 PM PDT by PatrickHenry (Disclaimer -- this information may be legally false in Kansas.)
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To: Crackingham
I don't suppose the liberal genius who wrote this has noticed the humanities or our most advanced political and philosophical thought for, oh, the past fifty years.

The left has been - and continues to be - against science, against rationality. Radical historicism has been where it's at for decades. It still is today, and anyone who insists the left represents "rationality" is either a pedant or a fool.

16 posted on 09/27/2005 1:18:39 PM PDT by Reactionary
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Comment #17 Removed by Moderator

To: PatrickHenry
...think Lawrence of Arabia...

You're a gay, Arab-loving, motorcyclist? ;^)>

18 posted on 09/27/2005 1:20:36 PM PDT by Junior (Some drink to silence the voices in their heads. I drink to understand them.)
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To: sasportas
Their name is a misnomer. They are neither represent true Christianity nor true science. Semi-pagan leftists, their theology similar to the Unitarians.

Didn't I just *say* that in point 3 of my earlier post?
;-0

Cheers!

19 posted on 09/27/2005 1:22:52 PM PDT by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: DaveLoneRanger
The fact that the THEORY of evolution is called a THEORY means that it may not be 100% correct.
20 posted on 09/27/2005 1:24:38 PM PDT by SolarisRocks
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