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February 07, 2006

Ignorance is bliss for Bush and his backer$

What do you do when you are the President and a special interest which gives very generously to you and your political party and whose lobbyists you've tried your best to install in positions of authority in government doesn't like the results of a published study that was funded by a federal research grant?

Withdraw funding of course.

The federal government has abruptly suspended funding for Oregon State University research that concluded federally sponsored logging after the 2002 Biscuit fire in southwest Oregon set back the recovery of forests.

Academic administrators and scientists say that this withdrawal of funding is unprecedented.

"It's totally without precedent as far as I can recollect," said Jerry Franklin, a professor at the University of Washington who has studied Northwest forests for decades. "It says, 'If we don't like what you're saying, we'll cut off your money.' "

I don't know why anyone is surprised by this. It's the same M.O. that we've seen elsewhere by this same President and his supporters.

Want to invade a foreign country but the facts don't appear to support you?

Fit the "facts" to your agenda

Want to promote the religious agenda of your base even though the science indicates other approaches are more productive?

Delete all references to the scientific facts and harrass those who don't capitulate.

One of the many ironies here is that conservatives have screeched loudly about the alleged academic bias on university campuses and in university classrooms.

You can bet it'll be a cold day in hell before these conservative "academic freedom" activists speak out against this example of academic censorship. But then again... nobody should be surprised by that.

Posted by Kevin at February 7, 2006 10:36 AM