[speechlesstx]

Surely you heard Obama Aims to Shield Science From Politics. He claimed "It is about ensuring that scientific data is never distorted or concealed to serve a political agenda _ and that we make scientific decisions based on facts, not ideology."

But what have you not heard? John Conyers (D) is sponsoring the “Fair Copyright in Research Works Act” which would make it illegal for agencies such the NIH and federally funded universities to publish research online for the public to access for free.

Conyers' “The Fair Copyright in Research Works Act” will make it illegal for government agencies like the NIH and other scientists (such as those at universities that take federal money) to put scientific research online for the public to access for free. And guess where Conyers wants to force all research papers to be put? That's right, in journals published by scientific journal publishers. You know, the same ones that gave 4 times more campaign cash to Conyers than they do to everyone else?

Why is this a big deal? Simply put wide access to scientific research spurs more research and helps serve as a sort of quality control agent. Without free access to others' research, scientists might waste time and money on dead ends that others have already mined or replicate needlessly findings already found. Plus, like any other human endeavor, when information grows so does knowledge.

On top of that simple logic, forcing all scientific research into printed journals will also end up limiting the ability of everyone to access scientific research papers because of the exorbitant cost of the journals.

As Discover Magazine writes:

This may not sound like a big deal, but journals are very expensive. They can cost a fortune: The Astrophysical Journal costs over $2000/year, and they charge scientists to publish in them! So this bill would force scientists to spend money to publish, and force you to spend money to read them.

That's right, Conyers wants to keep you dumb and him in campaign dollars. No, this is not law yet, and no I'm not going to wait for it to become law to object. It's 1984 and doublethink is in full play. As the writer of this column notes, “fair” is not fair, “free” isn't free, “freedom” is not freedom. The “fairness” doctrine isn't fair, Obama's “new era of fiscal responsibility” is anything but, “bipartisan” is “my way or the highway,” “new politics” is the same old crap sandwich, putting away “childish things” is the White House working in concert with the media to attack the enemy... and this bill is downright shameful.

[excon]

Hello Steve:

I'm sorry. Obama making a proposal, and your discovery of a Democrat who disagrees with him, ain't news. Democrats disagreeing with other Democrats ain't interesting either.

Seems to me that's all you guys got, lately.

Let's talk about ideas that save the world, m, kay?

Now, if you want to talk about the Newtster and the Limp one, I'm ready.

excon

[NeedKarma]

Let's talk about ideas that save the world, m, kay?

That won't happen, they are too wrapped up in their bitterness.

[speechlesstx]

I'm sorry. Obama making a proposal, and your discovery of a Democrat who disagrees with him, ain't news. Democrats disagreeing with other Democrats ain't interesting either.

If it were about Democrats disagreeing with each other you might have a point... but that ain’t what it’s about. It’s about a party in power and their supporters who have supposedly been hungry for “change” in science, ready to unleash all the scientific brilliance that was “suppressed” by the Bush administration – only to suppress access to the research.

This is the climate change, stem cell health care and other research that’s supposed to “save the world” but apparently we don’t need to know about it.

[speechlesstx]

That won't happen, they are too wrapped up in their bitterness.

[galveston]

If it were about Democrats disagreeing with each other you might have a point...but that ain’t what it’s about. It’s about a party in power and their supporters who have supposedly been hungry for “change” in science, ready to unleash all the scientific brilliance that was “suppressed” by the Bush administration – only to suppress access to the research.

This is the climate change, stem cell health care and other research that’s supposed to “save the world” but apparently we don’t need to know about it.

Transparency. Another Democrat myth.

[NeedKarma]

Transparency. Another Democrat myth.

Bigotry, another republican truth.

[speechlesstx]

Bigotry, another republican truth.

Of course, Republicans are just knuckle dragging bigots and Democrats believe in complete transparency.

[NeedKarma]

See? Painting with the wide brush is bad for all.

[inthebox]

Speech:

This is just like embryonic stem cells.
President Obama, the abortion industry, and scientist that depend on government grants to do ESC research do not want information to be accessible because knowledge is power.
You can't have a knowledgeable citizenry that can distinguish facts and truth from the false propaganda they are trying to spread - regarding esc and other issues.














G&P

[speechlesstx]

See? Painting with the wide brush is bad for all.

You mean like you and Obama did? "That won't happen, they are too wrapped up in their bitterness."

I can see this thread is going nowhere, all that concern for Bush suppressing science was "just words."

[inthebox]

Here is an example of what free information over the internet makes possible.

NEJM: Vioxx in the news; read the editorial on Merck's decision to pull this drug

Anyone can look up medical information on the internet. You don't have to pay to see some scientific abstracts.

This is a good thing. Merck could not hide its data. Why would this administration want to hinder access to information? Is this also hindering free speech?











G&P

[NeedKarma]

You mean like you and Obama did? "That won't happen, they are too wrapped up in their bitterness."

I can't speak for Obama but I was referring to the 4 or 5 people on this board who, every day, spend their days posting bashing threads about the other party for the same 4 or 5 people to read.

[speechlesstx]

I can't speak for Obama but I was referring to the 4 or 5 people on this board who, every day, spend their days posting bashing threads about the other party for the same 4 or 5 people to read.

"They" is an extremely broad brush.