Anti-science in the Congress

by Sultry

The U.S. Congress has entered the anti-science intellectual wilderness of willful ignorance, says the science journal Nature
[Via ClimateScienceWatch]

“It is hard to escape the conclusion that the US Congress has entered the intellectual wilderness,” said Nature, the international weekly journal of science, in an editorial on the March 15 House committee action on the EPA Endangerment Finding. “Republicans on the House of Representatives’ energy and commerce committee have made clear their disdain for climate science. …”

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Is anyone surprised? Intellectual wilderness is where most of our politicians wander.

Maybe someday they will come in from the wilderness.

Less accurate 5 day forecasts because satellites too expensive

NOAA says GOP’s proposed satellite funding cuts could halve accuracy of precipitation forecasts
[Via Climate Progress]

Michael Conathan, CAPAF’s Director of Ocean Programs, in a Science Progress cross-post.

The National Ocean and Atmospheric Association released new data yesterday showing precisely how the loss of environmental monitoring satellites would affect our ability to forecast extreme weather events.  NOAA used the example of the “Snowmageddon” storm that dumped massive precipitation from the Gulf of Mexico to New England on February 5-6, 2010.

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See. Our austerity programs have to make us less informed. Being less able to accurately predict weather patterns is just the price we pay for the top 2% to keep their tax cuts.

It used to be that in times of trouble we tried to become better. Now we just seem focus on becoming lesser. No grand plans to fix any problems.

Just less of the things that once made us great. What a sad world this is becoming!

Should political parties be allowed to comb through the employee records of their critics?

How Wisconsin Republicans Respond to Their Critics
[Via Big Think]

A couple of days ago, I wrote about an op-ed William Cronon wrote in The New York Times arguing that by attempting to strip public unions of their bargaining rights, Wisconsin Republicans “are seeking to reverse civic traditions that for more than a century have been among the most celebrated achievements not just of their state, but of their own party as well.” Cronon also published a blog post suggesting that a conservative group called The American Legislative Exchange Council—which I have written about here—is behind the push to eliminate collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin.

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Going on a witch hunt is the proper response to criticism?  Well, I guess in some strange sort of way, the professor is some sort of state employee so they can harass him for having an opinion.

Inquisitions are the response of bullies.

Intimidation is the purpose.

Of course, they want access to contacts with students which may hit laws that protect their rights. We already know from recent events that Wisconsin Republicans do not believe in the rule of law . They feel free to flaunt rules they do not like, such as open meeting laws, public access of government buildings and  judicial restraining orders.

Perhaps the University can pull the same thing that the Bush White House did when emails that were legally required to be archived were requested – Oops, we can’t find them. It took a couple of lawsuits for them to reappear.