Trump's Assault On Science In The Public Interest

The Union of Concerned Scientists has published an important  report on the first six months of the malignant administration of con man and pathological liar Donald "Rump" Trump, showing how destructive he and his appointees have been to the role of science in preserving our environment for us and future generations. The report, "Sidelining Science From Day One," presents a well-documented case of the historic anti-science rampage by the Trumpists (with the assistance of coin-operated Rethuglicans in Congress):

"Since President Trump took office in January 2017, his administration (aided and abetted by Congress) has waged a war on science—undermining the role of science in public policy, giving industry undue influence on decisionmaking processes, creating a hostile environment for federal scientists, and reducing public access to scientific information."

The report details the actions that have been used by the Trumpists to turn our national resources and scientific endeavors over to the predators for profit, including:

• Sidelining independent science advice;
• Appointing conflicted individuals to scientific leadership positions;
• Revoking science-based safeguards;
• Misrepresenting climate science and rolling back climate change safeguards;
• Weakening science-based pollution standards without scientific justification.;
• Altering scientific content on federal websites., and
• Restricting communication of scientists

By putting foxes to guard the hen houses of science, climate policy and environmental protection, Rump is looking to protect the industries that the public needs to be protected from, industries that have contributed handsomely to his campaign and to those of other Rethuglican nihilists. The stakes are high for the nation to be served by science in the public interest:

"In coming decades, the United States will face some of the most difficult challenges in its history. Science and technology will play a crucial role in helping us meet these challenges. The public deserves independent, impartial scientific information, even—or perhaps especially—when that information indicates the need for politically unpopular or inconvenient action."

You can support the work of the Union of Concerned Scientists here, and, of course, Resist.

Today's Cartoon Threefer - Hostile Environment

(click on images to enlarge)


(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)


(Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle)


(David Horsey, Los Angeles Times)

Rump's Proposed Assault On Environment (UPDATED)

Yesterday, executives from corporate polluters heard neo-fascist sociopath Donald "Rump" Trump promise that if he's elected, he'll gut environmental protections and open up public lands to their exploitation. Invoking the "America First" slogan originally used by pro-Nazi isolationists in 1930s America, Rump said,

“We need an America-First energy plan. This means opening federal lands for oil and gas production; opening offshore areas; and revoking policies that are imposing unnecessary restrictions on innovative new exploration technologies.”

Sounds like the tired "drill, baby, drill" mantra of one of Rump's early supporters.

As a climate change denier, Rump also pledged to the assembled greedheads that he'll trash the signature accomplishments of the Obama Administration dealing with climate change, the Clean Power Plan, and the Climate Action Plan, the latter of which commits the U.S. to meeting carbon reduction goals along with the international community. But Rump didn't stop there. He also pledged to undo the "Waters of the United States Rule," which governs clean water protection in new wetlands and waterways, and which has opposition from corporate agriculture and fossil fuel companies more interested in polluting upstream water resources than protecting them.

Rump's dangerous ignorance about global climate change is on display in the real-world application of environmental protections here in the U.S., and represents yet another reason why he has to be defeated in November.

UPDATE:  Next Tuesday, the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia will hear arguments from the corporate polluters that the Clean Power Plan should be voided. Appointing Federal Judges that side with the public vs. corporate interests is another example of why voting matters so much.