FUD Science

What is the real reason the federal government denies support for science?

It would be simplistic to say the budget crisis currently experienced by so many federal research agencies is a matter of funds being diverted to war. Congress failed to approve the budgets while there was a Republican majority in both houses in a matched set with the executive branch (and, I would argue, the judicial branch–but that’s a non-budgetary matter). It isn’t that they didn’t have the power to approve budgets if they had shown the will.

Just don’t find science important?

Just don’t think the world will be around long enough to justify the investment?

Can’t see how the research will benefit shareholders? (”What? No shareholders in Congress? My mistake. I must have confused it with something else.”)

I suspect many of the people who have the power to set the overall agenda aren’t seeking truths. I suspect they already have in hand as many truths as they can believe. What, then, could scientific research do to enrich their lives? On the contrary, scientific research has the potential to upset their lives by contradicting their truths about the age of the Earth, the origins of life, the sources of human sexuality, and–I think the most important point lately–how they expect the Earth to end. Gay evolutionary scientists who are concerned about climate change just don’t fit their worldview. They are not seeking to find out about the world, which is what one would expect from a scientist. They are seeking to tell the world about itself, which is what one would expect from preacher.

So? Preach, of course. And deny. That’s the answer. That’s what the Decider does. Also he ignores, as well as sending Tony Snow out to spread Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt about everything not on the Decider’s daily agenda. Fear Uncertainty Doubt. That’s FUD for short–a marketing strategy at work on many levels in the government. At the same time as denying, it appears to be important to place science denial experts in charge of government science, particularly environmental science. Preach, deny, ignore, and switch.

In the meantime, do they expect the world to end before we hold them accountable? I know I say this over and over. HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. The new Congress seems to be heading in that direction. Congratulations on the first 100 hours. Now, could you approve those spending bills rather than extending the stopgap resolution until September 30?

“Except for the Pentagon and the Department of Homeland Security, the government is being financed under a stopgap resolution. It expires Feb. 15, and Democrats said they planned to extend a similar resolution through Sept. 30.” William J. Broad, “Congressional Budget Delay Stymies Scientific Research,” New York Times, January 7, 2007.

UPDATE: I caught the replay of Science Friday with Ira Flatow (NPR) from Jan 12.  Science funding.  Great interview.

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