Top Scientists Say That Political Pressure Is Undermining Their Research

[applegrove]

Top Scientists Say That Political Pressure Is Undermining Their Research

by Sam P.K. Collins at Think Progress

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/10/03/3708535/protecting-scientific-integrity/

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Scientists at federal agencies say external political and industry forces heavily influence the quality and scope of their research, according to a large new survey involving thousands of top researchers.

The report, compiled by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) , gathered survey responses from 7,000 researchers from four government agencies — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Each respondent weighed in on matters of scientific integrity, interoffice communication, and agency effectiveness.

The results highlighted concerns that agency heads are placing greater priority on relationships with lawmakers and other government agencies than on efforts to further public health. For instance, at least 46 percent of respondents said political interests hampered their ability to carry out their goals. Respondents also said limited staffing and an inefficient process impeded timely decision making in their agencies.

“A significant number of scientists reported that political interests at their agencies were given too much weight in their agencies. Many scientists told us that scientific decisions were being swayed by politics or that political influence inhibited their ability to carry out agency missions,” Gretchen Goldman, the author of the report, wrote in a summary.


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[TheMastersNemesis]

1. Bush & The GOP Had A Lot Of Years To Put Repubs In Key Civil Service Positions.

Bush & Co were probably very successful in putting Repubs into key civil service positions. You can deregulate by law or you can infiltrate the system. Civil service was a way to stop political influence on necessary actions by our agencies. There are probably a lot of "double agents" in these agencies now that have loyalty other interests besides the U.S.

[applegrove]

2. In Canada, conservative Harper changed the rules for some of the government funded research: come

up with a CEO of a corporation who wants to help fund your research or you don't get to put an application into the government for any funding.

[AZ Progressive]

3. The rich know that they can mold society by using political power, and thus this shows how important

this is to them, to control society.

[SoapBox]

4. This is another of many reasos why we need a Political Revolution.