Nutty Professor

Some quotes from Bush's speech discussing the American Competitiveness Initiative at Tuskegee University.

And here are some things we need to do to make sure we shape the future. First is to make sure we're always on the leading edge of research and technology.

Basic research to meet one set of objectives can lead to interesting ideas for our society. It helps us remain competitive. So the government should double the commitment to the most basic -- critical research programs in the physical sciences over the next 10 years.

The federal government has got a role in making sure that there's research dollars available for places like Tuskegee. The federal government has got a role to provide incentive for private corporations to continue to invest in research and development.

So Bush is concerned about our scientific literacy?

This is coming from the same man who will not allow federal funding for stem cell research. According to the Boston Globe,

[Bush's] action spurred conservative members of Congress to introduce legislation that would criminalize both research with human embryonic stem cells and their future therapeutic use. If passed, the measure will send scientists, patients, and physicians to jail for up to 10 years and fine them $1 million. Competing legislation designed to overturn the ban was written a year later. Both measures passed the House and are now before the Senate.

Not only will he not allow funding, Bush and the Republican controlled Congress are going to throw people in jail who want to expand our scientific knowledge and help keep us on "the leading edge of research and technology".

And this is the same man who believes that evolution and "Intelligent Design" should both be taught in science classes.

Both sides ought to be properly taught . . . so people can understand what the debate is about

Problem is, there is no debate in the scientific community about evolution. Evolution is the only scientific explanation for the development of life on our planet.

So Bush doesn't understand the difference between scientific fact and religious myth. The man is willing to imprison scientists working to help make our world a better place because he thinks a few cells are a human life. And yet we are supposed to believe that he is truly concerned about our scientific literacy and wants to stay on the leading edge of research and technology?

Sorry, but as long as we have Jesus' spokesman in the White House, science will continue to play second fiddle to God.