10 More Nobel Prize Winners (Science This Time) Endorse Kerry

[DrFunkenstein]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US scientists, including 10 Nobel laureates, have launched a campaign in key US states to denounce the policies of President George W. Bush.

"This administration's politicization and misuse of science have made it increasingly difficult for science to play its rightful role in public policy-making," the group said on its website, www.scientistsandengineersforchange.org.

They said this attitude was "not surprising from a president who said during his campaign that 'the jury is still out on evolution.'"

According to the scientists, "this situation will not change until the American people elect a leader who respects the value and integrity of science more than the self-interest of his political allies and special-interest backers."

The founding members of the new group include Nobel Prize winners Peter Agre (Chemistry, 2003), Sidney Altman (Chemistry, 1989), Dudley Hershbach (Chemistry, 1986), Douglas Osheroff (Physics, 1996) and Arno Penzias (Physics, 1978) as well as former National Science Foundation (news - web sites) director and head of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Neal Lane.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040928/pl_afp/us_vote_scientists_040928225251&e=2&ncid=

PHILADELPHIA - John Kerry won the endorsement of 10 Nobel Prize-winning economists Wednesday as he attacked President Bush for policies that he said have led to the creation of only low-paying jobs.

The Democratic presidential nominee released a letter from the economists saying the Bush administration had “embarked on a reckless and extreme course that endangers the long-term economic health of our nation.”

They cited “poorly designed” tax cuts that instead of creating jobs have turned budget surpluses into enormous budget deficits, a “fiscal irresponsibility threatens the long-term economic security and prosperity of our nation.”

The endorsement, in the form of an open letter American voters, was signed by George Akerlof and Daniel McFadden of the University of California at Berkeley, Kenneth Arrow and William Sharpe of Stanford University, Daniel Kahneman of Princeton University, Lawrence Klein of the University of Pennsylvania, Douglass North of Washington University, Paul Samuelson and Robert Solow of MIT and Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia University.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5818277

[Ruffhowse]

1. Bush is the Middle Ages President-he plans to take us back that far in

science and education. He actively promotes the fundies wacky "Intelligent Design" garbage . He wants it taught side by side with evolution in public schools (he has said publicly he doesn't believe in evolution). That kind of stuff just drives legitimate scientists absolutely nuts. And the way this administration skews data from environmental science efforts to benefit corporate America also drives legitimate scientists crazy. Just another reason why we MUST get rid of this guy.

[Cats Against Frist]

2. "But can they drive a backhoe?

Yeah, these college people are somethin' else. I was changing some so-called professor's septic tank, and trying to explain to him, what we were doing, and he just didn't get it. That's what's wrong with these people -- they're locked away in some ivory tower, and probably can't even change a light bulb."

-- actual pacification of "ego threat," verbatim, as a reaction to my explanation of critical theory, and why I wanted to study it, which I heard come out of the mouth of an intellectual-hating right-wing member of my family.

I don't believe in an absolute "objectivity," (hence, the critical theory), and I'm not willing to lay all my faith at the alter of science -- but I'd say that science is a lot more convincing than superstitious Biblical hoke.