Frame an anodyne sentiment in such a way as to make it difficult to oppose. When critics try to expose it for the sham it is, the trap is sprung!
'Gotcha! You support discrimination against females! You are in favour of sex-selective abortion! SHRIEEEK!'
Cue up the video editing machine and commence production of attack ads.
So as this pig-ignorant government muzzles scientists, shuts down world-renowned research facilities, and just generally behaves like illiterate vandals, we thought a science-related gotcha! from the Fucking Useless Opposition® would be fun.
Look! The FUO put their pointy little heads together and came up with one all on their own. This past Wednesday, Kennedy Stewart (NDP, Burnaby-Douglas) put forward this modest proposal.
That, in the opinion of the House: (a) public science, basic research and the free and open exchange of scientific information are essential to evidence-based policy-making; (b) federal government scientists must be enabled to discuss openly their findings with their colleagues and the public; and (c) the federal government should maintain support for its basic scientific capacity across Canada, including immediately extending funding, until a new operator is found, to the world-renowned Experimental Lakes Area Research Facility to pursue its unique research program.Basically: a) science good, b) communication good, and c) please, pretty please throw a little interim dough at ELA.
The facty-sciency version of mom's apple pie, yes? Who would vote against that?
Who’s against science, open communication, and very modest funding for basic research? Every Conservative MP. parl.gc.ca/HouseChamberBu…
— Dan Gardner (@dgardner) March 22, 2013
Every single one of the blockheads running this country including creationist chiropractor and Minister of (Destroying) Science and Technology, Gary Goodyear, and former bingo-caller and Minister of (Destroying) the Environment, Peter Kent, voted against it. And the Prime Sinister himself, of course.
Doesn't your maple-leaf imprinted heart swell with patriotic pride?
I keep
Is this it? Dunno, but here are some relatively new initiatives that look like a good beginning: Unmuzzled Science, Evidence for Democracy, Science Uncensored and Death of Evidence.
Check them out. Get involved.
Pretty please?
