10,000 US Researchers Protest Political Interference

A statement signed by 10,000 U.S. researchers and backed by some 52 Nobel laureates is being submitted to Congress in hopes of returning “integrity” to government policy as it relates to certain areas of scientific research.

The Union of Concerned Scientists says that the recently overturned Republican majority did nothing to prevent executive censoring of government findings on topics from nutrition to climate change. The petitioning researchers are particularly concerned about NASA climatologist James Hensen’s allegations that some of his work on the topic of global warming has been “censored” from the media by the Bush White House.

The BBC reports:

Some 10,000 US researchers have signed a statement protesting about political interference in the scientific process.

The statement, which includes the backing of 52 Nobel Laureates, demands a restoration of scientific integrity in government policy.

According to the American Union of Concerned Scientists, data is being misrepresented for political reasons.

It claims scientists working for federal agencies have been asked to change data to fit policy initiatives.

The Union has released an “A to Z” guide that it says documents dozens of recent allegations involving censorship and political interference in federal science, covering issues ranging from global warming to sex education.

How interesting that serious researchers in this, the freest society on the planet, are being forced to deal with such political oppression whenever their work contradicts the aims or the justifications of powerful agendas. Unfortunately, these men and women are experiencing firsthand one of the most fundamental axioms of modern American democracy: that intellectuals are free to say whatever they please so long as they don’t say that.