Comments on: Seven for Science: Now that’s Science Progress! http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science/ Progressive approaches to science policy Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:54:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Sky Cypher http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science/comment-page-1/#comment-3965 Sky Cypher Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:12:28 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science-now-that%e2%80%99s-science-progress/#comment-3965 Quoting Dwight D. Eisenhower -- Farewell Address 1961 -- "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together." http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/dwightdeisenhowerfarewell.html It is this Military-Industrial-Multicomplex that we must address when the Obama administration takes power. Too many secrets kept from the public by our government citing national defense as the reason for such secrecy can no longer be tolerated to such a degree as has been allowed up until now. We must open up the closed doors of our government and disclose what has been kept out of the private sector in terms of energy research, transportation technologies and science/medicine. Quoting Dwight D. Eisenhower — Farewell Address 1961 — “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.”

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/dwightdeisenhowerfarewell.html

It is this Military-Industrial-Multicomplex that we must address when the Obama administration takes power. Too many secrets kept from the public by our government citing national defense as the reason for such secrecy can no longer be tolerated to such a degree as has been allowed up until now. We must open up the closed doors of our government and disclose what has been kept out of the private sector in terms of energy research, transportation technologies and science/medicine.

]]> By: jim white http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science/comment-page-1/#comment-3897 jim white Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:02:19 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science-now-that%e2%80%99s-science-progress/#comment-3897 Aloha Fellow Geeks: I do not want to write a science equation here, and I do not see the need to second-guess the "Change Theory". Sometimes you just know its the right answer even without the scientific method....These selections to me just "feel right"...so what can I do to help my community, explore ? is the question I put on my chalk-board...and you'll have to answer, "what will your question be on your chalk-board"? Mahalo from Hawaii..... Aloha Fellow Geeks:

I do not want to write a science equation here, and I do not see the need to second-guess the “Change Theory”.

Sometimes you just know its the right answer even without the scientific method….These selections to me just “feel right”…so what can I do to help my community, explore ? is the question I put on my chalk-board…and you’ll have to answer, “what will your question be on your chalk-board”? Mahalo from Hawaii…..

]]> By: Bryan A. Terry http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science/comment-page-1/#comment-3896 Bryan A. Terry Sun, 21 Dec 2008 06:54:55 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science-now-that%e2%80%99s-science-progress/#comment-3896 I realize that this is more about technological innovation than anything else, as much as we want that, how realistic is it to accomplish anything concrete in their first go at public office, especially in the first term of Obama's Presidency. While this is a HUGE step in the right direction, we must be realistic as to what will be done versus what needs to begin to be taken care of, i.e. environmental issues (Carol Browner and Lisa Jackson,) scientific progress (with help from John Holdren at his side) as well as future endeavors (in space) behind the ideas and goals of NASA Administrator Michael Griffin. Beyond "basic" scientific progress, we need to utilize emerging technologies from places like DARPA and the "Omni Directional Dielectric mirror" recently used in minimally invasive deep tissue surgeries in a CO2 fiber optic laser. As well as further medical developments that cut costs and invasive procedures to help swing political influence away from a simple universal healthcare system that people seem to be quickly jumping towards due to continually rising healthcare costs. I realize that this is more about technological innovation than anything else, as much as we want that, how realistic is it to accomplish anything concrete in their first go at public office, especially in the first term of Obama’s Presidency. While this is a HUGE step in the right direction, we must be realistic as to what will be done versus what needs to begin to be taken care of, i.e. environmental issues (Carol Browner and Lisa Jackson,) scientific progress (with help from John Holdren at his side) as well as future endeavors (in space) behind the ideas and goals of NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.

Beyond “basic” scientific progress, we need to utilize emerging technologies from places like DARPA and the “Omni Directional Dielectric mirror” recently used in minimally invasive deep tissue surgeries in a CO2 fiber optic laser. As well as further medical developments that cut costs and invasive procedures to help swing political influence away from a simple universal healthcare system that people seem to be quickly jumping towards due to continually rising healthcare costs.

]]> By: Michael F. Sarabia http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science/comment-page-1/#comment-3889 Michael F. Sarabia Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:28:40 +0000 http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/12/seven-for-science-now-that%e2%80%99s-science-progress/#comment-3889 Yes, they are good, smart, experts in their fields. Regretfully, I have discovered a disconnect. Those in charge of making commitments to build rapid rails in-city freight-delivery systems, etc., seem to march behind a different drummer. For example, a $10 Billion Bond for a High Speed Rail between LA-San Francisco-Sacramento was approved, barely, by voters. Yet, no technical agency evaluated their plans. 1. A noted newspaper commentator Dan Walters, in the Sacramento Bee, asserts the total cost to link LA and Sacramento will be close to $50 Billion. 2. Others insist this train will have to charge twice airplane rates to break even. The Governor insisted there will be no subsidies for passengers. Advocates often mention the low friction in level road and the high speed but ignore the train weight and the cost of acceleration and deceleration at every stop. Currently, three airports in the North serve four in the South with about 40 flights a day. 3. No noise studies have been made but some believe that 100 trains a day at 220 mph will be intolerable to birds nesting in wetlands near San Jose and intolerable to residents along the 700 mile route. 4. They mention nothing about provisions to make travel safe in this vulnerable rail system. Security experts in Government may have been totally ignored. Environmental officials must be sad to realize that all their beneficial efforts elsewhere will not compensate for all this. More is needed than just have smart people at the top, unable to control events at ground level, where the metal or rubber tire meets the road. ---------------- Another example, I understand Federal Funds (UNK) will be used to help a new car company build electric cars in San Jose, Calif, that sell for over $100,000! They have been to many cities where they were welcomed but nothing is build. Possibly to meet some requirements, a recent annoucement was that they are also going to build an small 4-seat electric car for about $60,000. Will anybody in Washington require more details and pass judgment on this? ----- I hope we can avoid the events that allowed censorship of the writings of a noted scientist, because he wanted to publish taxpayer-paid results that supported Global Warming. It seems that some political leaders have difficulty accepting the truth. ----- Should there be a committee on National Science, headed by a Chief appointed by the President and members from every state, appointed by the State Government, to interface and influence but not to decide, fund or implement projects. Just a bully pulpit. Yes, they are good, smart, experts in their fields.
Regretfully, I have discovered a disconnect.

Those in charge of making commitments to build rapid rails in-city freight-delivery systems, etc., seem to march behind a different drummer.

For example, a $10 Billion Bond for a High Speed Rail between LA-San Francisco-Sacramento was approved, barely, by voters. Yet, no technical agency evaluated their plans.

1. A noted newspaper commentator Dan Walters, in the Sacramento Bee, asserts the total cost to link LA and Sacramento will be close to $50 Billion.
2. Others insist this train will have to charge twice airplane rates to break even. The Governor insisted there will be no subsidies for passengers. Advocates often mention the low friction in level road and the high speed but ignore the train weight and the cost of acceleration and deceleration at every stop. Currently, three airports in the North serve four in the South with about 40 flights a day.
3. No noise studies have been made but some believe that 100 trains a day at 220 mph will be intolerable to birds nesting in wetlands near San Jose and intolerable to residents along the 700 mile route.
4. They mention nothing about provisions to make travel safe in this vulnerable rail system. Security experts in Government may have been totally ignored.

Environmental officials must be sad to realize that all their beneficial efforts elsewhere will not compensate for all this.

More is needed than just have smart people at the top, unable to control events at ground level, where the metal or rubber tire meets the road.
—————-
Another example, I understand Federal Funds (UNK) will be used to help a new car company build electric cars in San Jose, Calif, that sell for over $100,000! They have been to many cities where they were welcomed but nothing is build.
Possibly to meet some requirements, a recent annoucement was that they are also going to build an small 4-seat electric car for about $60,000. Will anybody in Washington require more details and pass judgment on this?
—–
I hope we can avoid the events that allowed censorship of the writings of a noted scientist, because he wanted to publish taxpayer-paid results that supported Global Warming.
It seems that some political leaders have difficulty accepting the truth.
—–
Should there be a committee on National Science, headed by a Chief appointed by the President and members from every state, appointed by the State Government, to interface and influence but not to decide, fund or implement projects. Just a bully pulpit.

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