[ab0di]

From the
New York Times --
SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD IS ABOLISHED Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman has decided to abolish his department's Science Advisory Board, a panel of experts that has served energy secretaries since the Carter administration. The board includes scientists, business leaders and former government officials who assign thorny technical questions from the secretary to subcommittees that respond with detailed reports. A spokesman for Mr. Bodman confirmed the decision, first reported in the journal Nature, and said Mr. Bodman, a former chemical engineer, judged the board to be unnecessary after President Bush set the department agenda in his State of the Union address. MICHAEL JANOFSKY (NYT)

[Novus]

This is standard procedure for the flat earth society. There has not been a sceintist as a member of the environmental board of advisors in years. They are all economists.

[ab0di]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Novus', 'T')his is standard procedure for the flat earth society.

[coyote]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ab0di', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Novus', 'T')his is standard procedure for the flat earth society.

[clover]

The reason this doesn't make sense to us is because we're part of the "reality-based" community... so obviously we are more limited in our thinking. This decision is practical on a whole host of levels simple folks like us aren't able to comprehend.

[clover]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ElijahJones', 'I') do not believe the Bush Administration would handle it even if they wanted to...

[clover]

Well, Monica's been having trouble getting work...

[rogerhb]

The Piligrim Fathers did not need "no stinkin science" either, and did not bring spades and hoes to the new world. They nearly died out but were saved by meeting an indian who spoke English.

[MountainHiker]

Remember, according a lot of people who voted Bush into office (according to official sources, and not the electronic voting machines) there's no need for science when you can just pray and all will be well.

One of my biggest concerns in facing Peak Oil is that vast numbers of people who will turn to religion as things get tough. That means we'll seek no viable, useful solutions, but rather will seek out emotion solutions like finding scapegoats who will then meet a terrible fate as the religious emotion is brought to a peak on their ass. Of course, we might get lucky and the religious factions will take each other out first, as they have done throughout history. Then we might stand a chance.

[Revi]

Does this mean that Bodman won't listen to scientists? Like geologists? Who is this Bodman? Is he an appointed figurehead from the religious right? Is this the man who is supposed to make our energy policy? Who is sailing this ship? Is it the chaplain or the captain?

[Terrapin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Revi', ' ')Who is sailing this ship? Is it the chaplain or the captain?

[rogerhb]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '.').... was solely responsible for the accident as consequence of not having properly responded to [s]flag[/s] price signals."

[Zardoz]

Dubya and his people are awesome in their wrongheadedness, aren't they?

Like I said before, could we possibly have a worse group of "leaders" at this most-crucial of times? Could the timing possibly be any worse?

This has to be karma. What goes around has come around for America. We're getting our comeupance, and it's only beginning. We're all going to feel like residents of Camp X-Ray. We're being held without charges, and we'll never get a day in court. We've got some serious waterboarding and stress-positioning ahead of us.

[MountainHiker]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Zardoz', 'D')ubya and his people are awesome in their wrongheadedness, aren't they?

[Revi]

Bodman is a chemical engineer and former CEO of the Cabot Corporation. He should know better than this. He is aware of peak oil. Maybe he's being briefed on the Hirsh report. Maybe there is reason for hope.