Scientific Integrity in Policy Making

[OneBlueSky]

Further investigation of the Bush administration's abuse of science

new report from the Union of Concerned Scientists . . . article here:

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1449

(snip)

Scientific Integrity in Policy Making: Further investigation of the Bush administration's abuse of science investigates several new incidents that have surfaced since the February 2004 UCS report. These new incidents have been corroborated through in-depth interviews and internal government documents, including some documents released through the Freedom of Information Act. The cases that follow include:

- egregious disregard of scientific study, across several agencies, regarding the environmental impacts of mountaintop removal mining;
- censorship and distortion of scientific analysis, and manipulation of the scientific process, across several issues and agencies in regard to the Endangered Species Act;
- distortion of scientific knowledge in decisions about emergency contraception;
- new evidence about the use of political litmus tests for scientific advisory panel appointees. These new revelations put to rest any arguments offered by the administration that the cases to date have been isolated incidents involving a few bad actors.

Concern in the scientific community has continued to grow. In the months since the original UCS report, more than 4,000 scientists have signed onto the scientists’ statement. Signers include 48 Nobel laureates, 62 National Medal of Science recipients, and 127 members of the National Academy of Sciences. A number of these scientists have served in multiple administrations, both Democratic and Republican, underscoring the unprecedented nature of this administration’s practices and demonstrating that the issues of scientific integrity transcend partisan politics.

- more . . .

http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/rsi/page.cfm?pageID=1449

(there's a link to the full report in the article . . .)

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Abuse of science, abuse of economics,

abuse of intelligence, abuse of the media.

Bush and his cronies are strangers to truth.