War on Science

Some of my friends think I exaggerate the extremism of the Bush Administration for dramatic effect. Presidents come and go, but America is essentially a modern society that continues to move forward culturally and scientifically they argue. 

But sadly, I do not exaggerate. To really understand just how regressive our government has become, you should read Chris Mooney’s “The Republican War on Science.”  In his exhaustively researched book, Mooney reveals case after case in which government scientists and administrators were ordered to alter their research, change their reports, and say things they knew not to be true just to advance the social agenda of the far right wing of the Republican Party.

From stem cell research to evolution, from global warming to abortion, from sex education to contraception, our government has been spending our tax dollars promoting junk science and failed programs designed to satiate the agenda of an extreme minority.

I wonder how many San Diegans realize that our government is now spending our tax dollars attempting to persuade unmarried 29 year olds to abstain from sex? You can read all about it here.

Despite recent research showing that 95 percent of Americans have engaged in premarital sex, President Bush has a strong message for people in their 11th year of adulthood: “Sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects.” (source: U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services)

I would welcome the opportunity to witness this program in action. Maybe the White House will allow me to accompany their advocates as they stroll the Gaslamp Quarter on a Friday night distributing official U.S. government abstinence publications to adults not sporting a wedding band? You have to admit, it would be good for more than a few laughs.

Of course it is very hard to find anyone who supports this nonsense. The challenge for those of us who are committed to a vision of America as an enlightened center of science and technology is to understand the danger and vote accordingly. We need to elect a President who will build our society based on scientific truth and common sense, and save our tax dollars for something better than a Friday night joke.

— VINCE HALL