Data fixing
When Bush fixed the data to justify going to war with Iraq, he was acting in accordance with a general practice that has always characterized his style of government. Another clear example of this has been his environmental policy. Bush's hacks who implement his environmental policy have a long history of editing out any scientific information that doesn't conform to Bush's policy. The New York Times today reported on another example of this kind of behavior.
In this case, a former oil industry lobbyist with no scientific credentials edited several government environmental reports that were prepared by agency scientists so as to "play down links between such [greenhouse gas] emissions and global warming, according to internal documents." The individual who did this was Philip Cooney, chief of staff for the rather ironically named White House Council on Environmental Quality.
The Times obtained documents from an organization that represents Rick Piltz, who resigned last March from the office that produced the scientific research that Cooney blue penciled. Piltz sent a memo last week to "top officials dealing with climate change at a dozen agencies", in which he said
Perhaps the most important question is why Bush continues to get away with this sort of thing. But that's another posting for another time.
In this case, a former oil industry lobbyist with no scientific credentials edited several government environmental reports that were prepared by agency scientists so as to "play down links between such [greenhouse gas] emissions and global warming, according to internal documents." The individual who did this was Philip Cooney, chief of staff for the rather ironically named White House Council on Environmental Quality.
The Times obtained documents from an organization that represents Rick Piltz, who resigned last March from the office that produced the scientific research that Cooney blue penciled. Piltz sent a memo last week to "top officials dealing with climate change at a dozen agencies", in which he said
"Each administration has a policy position on climate change. But I have not seen a situation like the one that has developed under this administration during the past four years, in which politicization by the White House has fed back directly into the science program in such a way as to undermine the credibility and integrity of the program."Similar examples of this sort of behavior can be found throughout Bush administration policies. For example, back in March, news stories came out with headlines like "Bush pushes questionable abstinence programs. Funding boost proposed despite classes' unproven effectiveness". Even though the data found no support for the Bush policy, he pursued them anyway.
Perhaps the most important question is why Bush continues to get away with this sort of thing. But that's another posting for another time.
Great post, Haiku! I so enjoyed your post over at Shakes Sis that I just had to come take a peek at your blog. Glad I did.
Posted by
Missouri Mule |
4:25 PM
There is no end to the corruption. This was in today's local newspaper (Lakeland, FL):
The inspector general of the Department of the Interior said Wednesday that a wealthy Florida family bluffed and pressured the government into paying an inflated $120 million for mineral rights in the Big Cypress National Preserve.
A memo to Secretary Gale Norton accompanying a report by department investigators said federal officials justified the price through an "illicit process" that "cries out for accountability."
Full story: "Unmitigated Outrage"
Posted by
Aikäne |
6:13 PM
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