Re: Sad Day for Science

Posted by Bodie the Dog on May 14, 2004 at 21:15:56:

In Reply to: Re: Sad Day for Science posted by Frank on May 13, 2004 at 23:51:11:

I need to add something constructive soon, to counterbalance all these non-desert things I've been commenting on lately....

But until then: remember interior secretary James Watt, of the Reagan era? He's the nut who once commented publically that we didn't have to worry about over-harvesting timber because the "end of days" was coming soon. (You know, God calls up all the souls and the evil godless ones have to remain behind). Anyway, Watt had a young assistant at the time, some even call him her mentor, so close was their relationship said to be. So guess who that person is? Gale Norton, our new Secretary of the Interior.

Where did she learn? What were her sources? Do you think they were scientifically balanced? Yet here she is, setting national, even international, policy.

Overharvesting a problem? Nah, the End of Days is coming. Too much development in the wilderness? Nah, just Manifest Destiny. Mass extinctions triggered by mankind? Ok, because God said He has given us all the land's animals and herbs to use.

That is the danger in selling scientifically incorrect material in government-sponsored places, that it will be accepted as fact. Because if it's in print, it must be true, and if the government is selling it, even more so.

Follow Ups:

• Re: Sad Day for Science PT 21:55:59 05/14/04 (0)