We have heard how the Bush administration has systematically interfered with scientific research to suppress and distort facts that may be embarassing or counter to the claims of their "base." Public policy has been used to shape research to the point that the integrity of any government funded research is questionable, regardless of the subject matter. I had no idea how thoroughly the "loyal Bushies" had infilterated and corrupted science in this country until I stumbled across a summary published by the Union of Concerned Scientists.
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is ...
... the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS combines independent scientific research and citizen action to develop innovative, practical solutions and to secure responsible changes in government policy, corporate practices, and consumer choices ... an alliance of more than 200,000 citizens and scientists.
The UCS has sharply criticized the Bush administration for years now regarding their manipulation of reports produced by the federal government. Suzanne Goldenberg recently reported in The Guardian, "Bush administration accused of doctoring scientists' reports on climate change." She says:
... At a hearing of Congress, scientists and advocacy groups described a campaign by the White House to remove references to global warming from scientific reports and limit public mention of the topic to avoid pressure on an administration opposed to mandatory controls on greenhouse gas emissions.
Such pressure extended even to the use of the words "global warming" or "climate change", said a report released yesterday by the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Government Accountability Project. The report said nearly half of climate scientists at government agencies had been advised against using those terms...
Peter N. Spotts reported in The Christian Science Monitor that Francesca Grifo, director of the scientific integrity program at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) said:
... "We are beyond the anecdotal ... We now have evidence to support the view that this problem goes deeper than just these few high-profile cases...
How deep does this problem go? The "A to Z Guide to Political Interference in Science" lists the Bush administration interference alphabetically, by issues, and by agency/department.
Issues include:
Public Health
The Environment
Pollution and Contamination
National Security and Others
On the issue of Public Health, the "loyal Bushies" have circumvented sound science and used federal Public Health agencies to advance the Republican agenda. Examples include:
HIV/AIDS Education: Scientific Knowledge on HIV/AIDS Prevention Distorted.
Reproductive Health Advisory Committee: Underqualified Nominee for FDA Reproductive Health Advisory Committee.
Abstinence Only Sex Education Science: Scientific Knowledge on Abstinence-only Education Distorted.
President's Council on Bioethics: "... another clear case of political interference in the science advisory appointment process.."
Ketek: FDA Allows Pediatric Trials for Drug with Risk of Liver Failure
NIH Fogarty International: Political Litmus Tests at the Fogarty International Center
Vetting of experts on WHO Panel: HHS Seeks Right of Approval Over Experts on WHO Health Panels
Emergency Contraception: Science Overruled on Emergency Contraception
Workplace Safety Panel: Political Litmus Tests on Workplace Safety Panel
Breast Cancer: Scientific Knowledge on Breast Cancer Distorted
Abstinence Only Sex Education Curriculum: Abstinence-Only Education Programs Teach False Science
Childhood Lead Poisoning Panel: Lead Poisoning Prevention Panel Influenced by Industry
Vioxx: FDA’s Drug Safety System Fails to Protect Public
Prescription Drugs Mifepristone and Misoprostol: WHO Endorses Safer Abortions Despite U.S. Interference
Nerve Stimulator: Top FDA Official Approves Medical Device Despite Lack of Efficacy
International AIDS Conference: CDC Experts Prevented from Presenting At International AIDS Conference
NIH Drug Abuse Panel: Litmus Test for Appointees at the National Institute on Drug Abuse
Sexually Transmitted Disease Panel at CDC: HHS Censors STD Panel at CDC Conference
These are the Headlines. Some of the details:
HIV/AIDS Education: Scientific Knowledge on HIV/AIDS Prevention Distorted. "... information on the Centers for Disease Control's (CDC) website has been altered to raise scientifically questionable doubt about the efficacy of condoms in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS..."
Reproductive Health Advisory Committee: Underqualified Nominee for FDA Reproductive Health Advisory Committee. "... In several cases, the George W. Bush administration’s candidates for advisory positions have so lacked qualifications or held such extreme views that they have caused a public outcry..."
Abstinence Only Sex Education Science: Scientific Knowledge on Abstinence-only Education Distorted. "... the Bush administration has required the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) ... to obscure the lack of efficacy of abstinence-only programs ... the Bush administration has suppressed other information at odds with its preferred policies ... CDC scientists were regularly reminded to push the administration’s abstinence-only stance. ... 'The effect was very chilling' ... "
President's Council on Bioethics: "... another clear case of political interference in the science advisory appointment process ... the Bush administration dismissed Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn ... and Dr. William May ... from the President's Council on Bioethics ... some 170 researchers signed an open letter to President Bush protesting the decision..."
Note that this is in the area of Public Health. If any research should be held to a higher standard it should be where human health is involved.
Given the examples in the area of Public Health, it is easy to extrapolate the degree that Bu$hCo has transmogrified science related to the environment and national security.
I refer the reader to the introductory page that outlines the evidence of political interference and has hyperlinks to the details.
Warning: your head may explode.