Chris Mooney’s book is a frightening wake-up call about the attacks on Science from the Republicans and their allies of Industry and Religious Fundamentalism. Only recently have their efforts been rewarded but it’s a campaign that is 40 years in the making; since the trouncing of Goldwater in 1964. Chapter by chapter he elaborates on how the current herd of Republicans have been undermining American Science at many levels through their think tanks, lobbyists, Industry allies, Religious Right allies and the most insidious of tactics, staffing key positions with appointees who share the Agenda. The problem reared its ugly head years before the current Bush administration. There were major pushes during Reagan’s presidency through de-regulation; the “myth” of acid rain; the idiocy of SDI or Star Wars actually working despite the mathematical odds against it. There were many moments of Science professionalism to counter the first Republican Revolution such as Surgeon General Koop putting aside his opinion on abortion to present a report on the actual long-term effects. After the Republicans took control of the House in 1994, the War on Science escalated to the problematic situation it is now. Any remaining Republicans who heeded the findings from Science, like Koop, were marginalized this time and all restraint went out the window. With Newt Gingrich as Speaker, Industry and the Religious Right started getting the free pass they’ve continued to enjoy today, now the Republicans control two branches of the government and are gradually seeping into the third.
War begins with Bush’s incorrect statement about how many viable stem-cell lines are already in existence so his law banning any further development of others would not jeopardize future or ongoing research (an outright lie). This is followed by individual chapters on the Republican campaigns and their frightening successes against Global Warming (an alleged hoax), the Endangered Species Act, Evolution (where there is NO controversy), laws favoring clean air and water (some think mercury is good for you), abortion (even though EU studies show no long-term side effects such as drug usage or depression)…the list goes on and it’s infuriating.
Mooney does a great job translating the science into layman’s terms, especially stem-cell research and deflating why “adult” stem cells are useless. He does point out the errors of the Democrats overselling stem-cell research in the 2004 election and their Left-leaning allies over genentically modified foods (displaced fear over corporate control of the food supply). The most egregious misinformation has come from the Republicans which is why the book is focused on them and there’s no need for “balance,” because Science isn’t democratic. Journalists also need to learn how to properly cover Science. It doesn’t follow the same “he said, she said” rules or why breakthroughs shouldn’t be announced until more studies prove or disprove someone’s findings.
As the book comes to a close, the future appears pretty bleak. The wrecking-ball approach to gut Science that doesn’t agree with the Republicans’ agenda is currently winning. The repercussions are only beginning to show; foreign scientists are choosing other nations to study, test scores and the general public’s understanding are declining, Industry is choosing other nations for their future R&D centers, the list goes on. Mooney still ends his book on a high note about the tide of Greed, Ignorance and Fear possibly cresting by now. There are many Republicans breaking ranks from Bush on Science because they’ve had enough. Seems plausible to me, three of the biggest, diehard Republicans I went to college with were an engineer, a pharmacist and a geneticist. You could never change their minds about welfare, abortion (legal or moral arguments) or foreign policy. On the other hand, none of them believed in the “God of the Gaps” to explain the alleged holes in Science’s explanations due to their studies nor let their socio-economic stances cloud their understanding of Science. I was even shocked when one of them told me how foolish SDI was, a cornerstone of Reagan’s defense policy. So Republicans like them are growing disgusted with the War on Science and eventually their numbers will reach critical mass to steer their party back on course. I think it won’t actually happen until the Wall Street Republicans are finally affected. What should the rest of us do? Voting is a start but also hold the Democrats’ feet to the fire should they do the same thing.
Clarification/Correction, Nov. 6, 2006: My friend Bryant made a comment today about the first sentence of the second paragraph of the review. So I went back to the beginning of the book. On August 9, 2001, Bush would only allow federal funding for “more than sixty genetically diverse” embroynic stem cell lines. Thus he could still appease the religious conservatives he courted in 2000 on holding up a campaign promise. Turns out there’s only 22 that qualify for funding and most scientists have found them useless.
The author was correct with Bryant and I was incorrect about it being a law. However, when it comes to the current mindset of this administration and its allies in Congress, there is no so-called “difference” since the Republican War on Science is being executed by any means at their disposal to achieve their ends: executive orders, legislation, lobbying, misinformation campaigns and talking points.
“War begins with Bush’s incorrect statement about how many viable stem-cell lines are already in existence so his law banning any further development of others would not jeopardize future or ongoing research [an outright lie].”
So, did W. ban stem cell research by law, or did he refuse federal funding to such research by executive order? There’s a large scale of difference between the two.