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Wednesday, September 15, 2010

US Government challenged on science policy

What do you think of when a policy on science says political appointees may revise scientific findings "for clarity to aid decision-making" and can fire scientists who let data out before it's been reviewed by agency heads? You'd think that was the much-criticized policy of the George W. Bush administration, right? These are indeed the points that brought the Bush Administration harsh rebukes from the scientific community, but the directive involved is from President Obama's Department of the Interior. The White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and its head, John Holdren, have rushed to point out this is just a draft, but why was such language put in a draft (a year-late draft, BTW) by an Administration that promised there would NOT be policies like that?
COMMENT: The desire to control the message is not a liberal or conservative desire, but a universal one in governments.

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