I wasn’t feeling well, so I just saw this article today. The non-partisan ScienceDebate.org asked the four main presidential candidates (Clinton, Trump, Johnson, and Stein) a series of twenty questions in regards to important scientific and technologically related questions. There’s one other diary on this already (by Meteor Blades) but discussing the climate change question, not the other nineteen. I won’t steal his thunder with regards to dissecting that aspect of the page, go and read his excellently crafted diary. The answers showcase how they’ll approach important science related topics, while also perhaps showing a lot more than just that.
Clinton’s answers are full of substance, argument, and plans. She states what the problems are, why we should be concerned, and how she plans to fix them. They’re full of good ideas, with a few places I don’t entirely agree, but I’m okay with the disagreement. I can rest assured when she becomes President, we’ll have policy and priorities in place that are of sound science and will help the country achieve its goals again.
Trump’s answers are short and to the point, which is okay. Where Clinton goes into details about her plans and policy ideas, Trump says he has plans and policy ideas, but it is pretty clear he has no real idea what he’s saying. Besides that, however, a lot of his plans rely on buffing up the strength of the private sector, as if somehow government regulation is the only thing stopping scientific and technological breakthroughs.
Stein’s responses are bullet points with pie-in-the-sky answers that sound great, but have either no solid chance of becoming actual policy or have something holding them back from possibly being implemented. Whether lack of infrastructure already in place or financial ability, they’re wishful thinking with no basis in reality. Some of them are also directly anti-science (read: GMOs.)
Johnson did not respond. Shows how much he cares about the topic.
Below the fold are my favorite responses. One of them is actually surprising:
Trump on Innovation:
Innovation has always been one of the great by-products of free market systems. Entrepreneurs have always found entries into markets by giving consumers more options for the products they desire. The government should do all it can to reduce barriers to entry into markets and should work at creating a business environment where fair trade is as important as free trade. Similarly, the federal government should encourage innovation in the areas of space exploration and investment in research and development across the broad landscape of academia. Though there are increasing demands to curtail spending and to balance the federal budget, we must make the commitment to invest in science, engineering, healthcare and other areas that will make the lives of Americans better, safer and more prosperous.
Don’t entirely agree with the first part — there are weasel words talking about eliminating regulation, but the rest is very good.
Stein on the Internet:
The Internet and the access to information it provides is an extremely important resource for the entire world. Here is how we will protect and improve the Internet:
• Protect the free Internet. Oppose the Online Piracy Act and all other legislation that would undermine freedom and equality on the Internet.
• Vigorously defend net neutrality.
• Support public broadband Internet.
• Negotiate international treaty banning cyberwarfare; create a new UN agency tasked with identifying the sources of cyber attacks.
Very much yes. I wish Clinton would come out as strongly for these things (she doesn’t mention public broadband or net neutrality in her response.) These are actually achievable goals.
Clinton on Mental Health:
Too many Americans are being left to face mental health issues on their own, and too many individuals are dying prematurely from associated health conditions. We must do better.
That’s why I recently released a comprehensive and detailed plan to address this important issue that impacts so many American families. Under my plan, we’ll promote early diagnosis and intervention, including launching a national initiative for suicide prevention. We’ll integrate our nation’s mental and physical health care systems so that health care delivery focuses on the “whole person,” and significantly enhance community-based treatment opportunities. We’ll improve criminal justice outcomes by training law enforcement officers in crisis intervention, and prioritizing treatment over jail for low-level, non-violent offenders. We’ll enforce mental health parity to the full extent of the law. We’ll improve access to housing and job opportunities. And we’ll invest in brain and behavioral research and developing safe and effective treatments.
Preach it. I love it so much. This is sorely, sorely needed.
Clinton on Space:
As president, my administration will build on this progress, promote innovation, and advance inspirational, achievable, and affordable space initiatives. We must maintain our nation’s leadership in space with a program that balances science, technology and exploration; protect our security and the future of the planet through international collaboration and Earth systems monitoring; expand our robotic presence in the solar system; and maximize the impact of our R&D and other space program investments by promoting stronger coordination across federal agencies, and cooperation with industry. I will work with Congress to ensure that NASA has the leadership, funding and operational flexibility necessary to work in new ways with industry, placing emphasis on inventing and employing new technologies and efficiencies to get more bang for the buck while creating jobs and growing the American economy.
Most important is the last part of that statement — flexibility. A lot of NASA budget is being hacked apart and specified to objectives that are determined by Congress. They budget to build a space vessel that offers kickbacks to a corporation giving money to some congressperson, while dumping the Earth Sciences portion of their budget.
Clinton on Immigration:
In my first 100 days in office, I will put a bill before Congress introducing comprehensive immigration reform. This bill will secure our borders, focus our enforcement resources on violent criminals, keep families together, and include reforms to retain and attract talented, skilled scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs.
In addition, there are an estimated nine million lawful permanent residents in our country who are eligible to become citizens. We need to promote the benefits of American citizenship, and eliminate the cost barriers to naturalization. I will also work to ensure that individuals who immigrate to our country have the support they need to integrate into their communities. I will create a National Office for Immigrant Affairs, and will support affordable integration services through new grant funding.
I love this answer because it underpins the reason Trump is so wrong on immigration. He wants to secure the borders and prevent people from coming in while deporting people who are already here. What needs to be fixed is the broken immigration system, and Clinton has a good plan.
Clinton on Scientific Integrity:
I am deeply concerned by the recent increase in partisan political efforts to interfere in science. I strongly support the free exchange of ideas and data, peer review, and public access to research results and other scientific information, all of which can help protect science-based policy decisions from undue influence from special interests.
Calling out that GOP Lysenkoism.
Johnson on Everything:
This candidate has not yet responded
Of course he hasn’t.