Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s War on Environmental Science
I don’t normally wade into discussing politics because 1) I don’t follow it as closely as perhaps I should and, 2) it can be a pretty controversial topic which can get messy in a hurry. I don’t want to weigh this week’s flypaper down too much, but I feel compelled to share a number of deeply concerning developments in the Canadian government’s recent cuts to environmental research.
If we’re not studying the affects of pollution on freshwater ecosystems, I guess we can still keep track of pollutants in marine environments. Wait, you mean that entire department has been cut as well? Oh. (As a slightly ironic aside, even the US media is picking this one up and questioning what the hell Canada is thinking)
Well, certainly our protected terrestrial environments will be studied and Canadian National Parks kept safe. No?! You have got to be kidding me. (It’s not only the natural history aspects of Parks Canada getting cut, it’s also our cultural history.)
Add to this the thousands of jobs cut across the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada, and it’s not hard to see that our current government views scientists & environmental research as an inconvenient truth (especially when they don’t tow the party line).
I’m incredibly proud to call Canada my home & native land, but am utterly ashamed of these “cost saving” measures being rapidly pushed through by the Conservative government. These short-sighted cuts will have long-lasting environmental ramifications well beyond the tenure of any political party’s leadership, will tarnish Canada’s reputation as an environmentally-friendly nation, and will hamper our ability to attract new minds to our universities, industries and governments. I have no doubt that in 10-15 years we will look back on this government and wonder “O Canada, what have you done?”
Morgan, I feel you from across the border. Can’t really add anything else.
I am not surprised; this is what happens when socialists “run out of other peoples money”.
Considering the billions pissed away on trying to prove AGW regardless of the facts (or lack thereof) and puffing up the anti-humanist, anti-capitalist eco-fascists, did you expect there would be no swing of the pendulum ?
After January 2013 you can likely expect something similar in the USA as well.
Good idea.
Iron Law of Bureaucracy states that in any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people: those who work to further the actual goals of the organization, and those who work for the organization itself. Examples in education would be teachers who work and sacrifice to teach children, vs. union representative who work to protect any teacher including the most incompetent. The Iron Law states that in all cases, the second type of person will always gain control of the organization, and will ALWAYS write the rules under which the organization functions.
I used to think like you too. After you have lived a few more decades, if you are as acute observer of humanity as you are of insects, you too will conclude that liberal big government do-gooders end up doing more harm than good in the long run if not in the short run. Ask yourself why there are now more people on food stamps than there ever were before the so called “do-gooders” took office 3 years into their administration.
Anything Harper does to unclog the system is EPIC WIN ! The iron law types will just start again.
If you have the time, examine the concrete results of those who share some of your views:
http://voicesofthenation.com/10-poorest-american-cities-what-they-have-in-common/
You know Morgan that sticking your fingers in your ears and repeating la-la-la-la won’t make the facts go away ?
BioBob,
I’m not going to debate and try to change your mind on these topics, because 1) I’m not a climatologist/economist/political scientist, but an entomologist who’s rather busy, and 2) I doubt anything I could say would change your outlook on these issues.
What I will do however, is point you to the definition of irony.
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