Originally posted by darkbluesky
Soficrow,
Thanks for your thoughtful, polite post.
I've visted the links you posted, and have read many of your previous exchanges with those who have similar and different viewpoints. ...One common
theme seems to be the demonization of the Bush Administration for it's part in all this scientific whitewashing.
I'm old-fashioned - and think my duty as a citizen is to pay attention to
whatever administration might be in power, and to
speak up
about my concerns.
He will only be in office for 24 more months. Surely, just eight years of muzzling US government researchers will have no real affect on the
climate or ecosystem.
The timing is critical. Many crises are coming to a head - it's Bush's bad luck he's at the helm at this time, and our misfortuune he's attempting
to deal with these crises by sweeping them under the carpet. It won't work.
It's the doubling problem, best explained with the "lily pond story." ...A king gives his son, the prince, a lily pond for his birthday. The king
explains that the lilies have to be cut back regularly because they double in growth every day - if they are allowed to grow and cover the whole pond,
they will kill it and everything in it. "It can happen in a month," says the king. The prince is lazy, and doesn't cut back the lily pads because
the pond looks okay. Even on day 29 of the 30 day month, the pond is only half covered in lily pads. The prince thinks, "Maybe I'll do a bit of
cleaning tomorrow." But the next day, the pond is dead. ...The lily pads doubled from half to full overnight.
...IMO - it's 12:01 am of the 30th - and Bush hasn't called the pond cleaner yet, never mind tackled the job himself.
...there are many non-government scientific and research organizations, as well as foreign governments, around the world who are free to present thier
findings and opinions as they see fit. In this age of the internet and universal access, surely important opinions will find their way to the public.
Don't you agree?
The point is - US contributions to the knowledge pool
could be substantial, but they are not - this administration's policies neutralize "the
internet and universal access."
Why should our tax dollars pay for research that is NOT publicly accessible - and is hidden to protect patents and Intellectual Property Rights owned
by international corporations?
Finally, I don't appreciate being accused of being a disinformation agent.
Aww. I never actually
said that.
...Good post tho. Thanks.