JLVernonPhD presents "American SciCo"

Just when I thought I was all alone in criticizing the Obama administration for favoring politics over science, my suspicions were reinforced by Bill McKibben’s disheartening story.  Recently, I’ve posted two different stories (story 1 and story 2) about Obama’s political use of science.  And, just as I was trying to move on and get over it, having made my point, I was flabbergasted by the “Science Friday” story about a group of young college students who wished to make a statement about the need for renewable energy in America.  The students from Unity College in rural Maine had a brilliant plan to drive a solar panel to Washington to have the President install it on the roof of the White House.  The message would be clear to the public that THIS administration is serious about climate change. 

Here’s the kicker.  The solar panel wasn’t just any old backyard solar panel.  It was one of the actual panels removed from the roof of the White House by Ronald Reagan after defeating Jimmy Carter in 1980.  The panels were installed by President Carter during his effort to promote alternative energy in the ‘70’s.

Sadly, after much fanfare and many promotional stops including a visit to the David Letterman show, the plan to have the panels installed by the President was squashed by a team of environmental bureaucrats at the White House.  The staffers brushed off the students’ requests to help them accomplish their goal.  The staffers even refused to pose for a photo with the students and the panel.  It was a political lesson hard-learned.

You see, in this political climate, President Obama can’t afford to lose more support by emulating any of President Jimmy Carter’s political maneuvers.  I mean, can you imagine how FOX News would frame this story?  FOX has already drawn parallels between Obama’s Presidency and the so-called “failed” Carter administration.  Heaven forbid Obama tries to install climate-friendly energy generators at the White House.

Here’s the dilemma for Bill McKibben, who organized this whole campaign, and myself.  We, scientists and environmental activists, who truly wish to have an impact on climate policy need to let the President know that this is not a game to us.  We cannot afford to idly standby and watch as some in this government ignore the science and continue to support policies that exacerbate the climate problem, such as funding the building of coal plants and extending our dependence on oil.  We have to make a statement, but, and this is a huge BUT, we also know that President Obama is about as good a politician as we can get elected who still promotes evidence-based policies.  Obama and the Democrats have been fairly generous to science, but when they fail to follow-through on their rhetoric, we must hold them accountable.  The problem is that we really don’t have many alternatives.  By antagonizing the President and the Democrats, we run the risk of confusing the American public and leading them to believe that the alternative candidate is a better choice.  Worse, we might further empower the truly anti-science Tea Party and other merchants of doubt.  After all, EVERY GOP SENATE CANDIDATE IN THIS ELECTION DENIES CLIMATE CHANGE!!!!

So, where does that leave us?  Do we chime in and contribute to the chorus of criticisms along with the DADT critics, the healthcare critics, the economic critics and the “don’t mess with my Constitution” critics?  Or do we “behave” and hope for the best after this election?  Are we on our own?  Must we take matters into our own hands and start demanding green policies from our employers and our local governments?  Perhaps it’s time (as Al Gore said) for civil disobedience.  However, I’ll leave the “second amendment solutions” to the Tea drinkers.
 
I cannot pretend to know the answer to this problem, but rest assured that I’ll be thinking about it.

In the meantime, you can see how Bill McKibben has chosen to deal with the situation by going here: http://www.350.org/invitation