Dirty Politics: This Is Why Scientific Research Get So Little Respect!
This morning, while doing my usual Twitter review, I came across a tweet from the Scientist.com about John McCain’s recent anti-science Twitter rants. Based on his tweets (and snarky comments) he considers the following projects blatant examples of pork barrel spending:
"$209,000 to improve blueberry production and efficiency in GA"
"$819, 000 for catfish genetics research in Alabama"
"$900,000 for fish management - how does one manage a fish"
Older McCain tweets include:
"$1,427,250 for genetic improvements of switchgrass - I thought switchgrass genes were pretty good already, guess I was wrong."
"$250,000 to enhance research on Ice Seal populations"
"$2.1 million for the Center for Grape Genetics in New York - quick peel me a grape."
"$650,000 for beaver management in North Carolina and Mississippi"
McCain’s tweets underscore how little politicians—especially republicans(what do you expect from a party that endorses intelligent design over evolution) —understand about how science works. That said, some of the proposed projects cited by McCain may require additional scrutiny (by science experts not him) and may turn out to be projects that don't warrant funding. Nevertheless,I believe that McCain's tweets are part of a well crafted Republican-led initiative intended to publicly discredit these earmarked projects so that he and other Republican's can redirect public monies to their own pork barrel initiatives. Shame on McCain and his cronies for attempting to hijack Twitter to discredit worthy scientific, environmental,agricultural and conservation projects.
Let’s try to disrupt McCain’s plan by tweeting that he is anti-science!
Tweet away peeps!
Hat tip to the The Scientist!
Until next time...
Good Luck and Good Twittering!
