Gov. Bobby Jindal, in his response to the president's speech to Congress last night, made an unfortunate choice in reaching for a cheap laugh: "While some of the projects in the [stimulus] bill make sense, their legislation is larded with wasteful spending. It includes . . . $140 million for something called 'volcano monitoring.' Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington, DC." It was especially unfortunate coming from the governor of Louisiana, which benefits so much from, to coin a phrase, "hurricane monitoring." The $140 million also covers "earthquake monitoring," I should mention.
Maria Brumm was quick to respond on her blog Green Gabbro, documenting the money and lives saved. And she has also started the group "Volcano Monitoring" has been started on Facebook, "Because Bobby Jindal wants to be surprised by a volcanic eruption. We must unite against the GOP and ensure that our volcanoes are monitored!"
This money is productive and far-sighted. Oh sure, some of the instruments it will place on volcanoes will be destroyed by eruptions. That's OK with me.
Naturally more bloggers are weighing in: I like this one and this one and this one.
Comments
Actually, Maria didn’t start the group – they just used her post for background info. I’m off to change my post now!
We cannot expect much rationality or practical appreciation of science from someone like Bobby Jindal,a delusional fundamentalist,who wants to teach “the controversy” in Louisiana. If this is what conservatives see as a “rising star” in their political circles (i.e Sarah Palin) imagine how scary a “dim light” would be.
It is truly a shame that many Liberals resort to personal attacks rather than addressing issues and presenting a persuasive argument. As a conservative geologist, I understand the point Governor Jindal was trying to make which is during dire economic times we will have to make hard fiscal decisions concerning priorities. While I understand volcano/earthquake monitoring is a worthy subject, it may be able to wait while higher priority issues are addressed. Scientists of all people should be able to put down the political “Kool-aid” and the personal attacks about a philosophy that they obviously do not understand.
Don’t forget that the stimulus package was supposed to 1) create jobs and 2)build infrastructure to build back the economy, both of which would happen with that. For example, Redoubt volcano in Alaska lacks the necessary GPS and seismic monitoring to accurately predict/warn of the impending eruption, which could save lives, or at least, help with international aviation.
Greg, as a geologist you must understand why it stings when a prominent government leader makes Earth science a whipping boy. Scientists of all stripes feel a congenital dismay at the federal spending system, I daresay–but attempting to impose priorities here is like arguing with a bulldozer.
Greg,
It’s a personal attack against the pursuit of rational knowledge when we let religious fundamentalists like Jindal use his personal beliefs in supernatural Bronze age fantasies to decide important educational polices like what is taught in non-religious, public science classes.
The last eight years was an orchestrated religious/political attempt to attempt to revise or censor the parts of science that Bush and the conservatives found religiously or philosophically offenive. Jindal,Palin and others of their ilk of the same category.
It does not take(your inane reference)”Kool-aid” to see reprehensible ignorance and arrogant deceit for what it is.
Jules,
I feel sorry for your closed mind.
I believe my point has been made for me. Thanks.
Andrew,
I apologize that my commnets have digressed into political exchanges,but I would like to offer at least one more reply to Greg.
Greg,
My “unofficial” dictionary definition of the closed mind would the current state of political,social and religious conservatism, especially in this country.
The status quo conservatism of today, which has little to do with conserving what is precious and real about life on this planet, is becoming a anachronism because of it’s obstructive tactics, it’s obstinate denial and refusal to adapt and innovate to the ecological and social realities of the world as it is now.
In my opinion, religious fundamentalism is definitely a ludicrous throwback to our unenlightened past, and is close to being a dangerous pathology (one that I had experience with in my youth). It not compatible with a modern society based on scientific reason and human freedom or even true compassion, altruism and the philosophical search for real ethical values.
I enjoy this column and respect many of the comments presented here and their civil. I do object to those who turn a purely issue driven discussion into personal attacks against ones religious and political beliefs. I was taught to entertain all scientific opinions and points of view and once in the crucible of scientific scrutiny, the truth would present itself. I am at a loss to understand how people, who seem to hate what they obviously do not understand, can objectively discuss issues. I respect your right to your opinion even though I wholeheartly disagree with it. To all, please accept my regrets for this personal exchange which I did not ask for.
Don’t worry about it. The web is not a calm, peer-reviewed place, the government is a sausage factory you need a strong stomach to witness, and the stakes are high. People’s feelings are strong. Just ignore as best you can the provocative labels like the L-word (”Liberal”), Jules, and the D-word (”delusional”), Greg.
Jules, take a chill pill,
Bobby Jindall is not anti-science.
The notion that the GOP is anti-sicence is absurd.
This is supposed to be a stimulus bill to create jobs and ensure credit liquidity.
It is as simple as that
jtmckee,
Does that chill pill come in a chocolate flavor?
Here is one link among other sources on the internet that document the anti-science biases among some conservatives of the Republican party. Democrats and liberals are far from perfect, but at least now science will probably not be treated as a second class citizen or worse by the Obama administration.
http://www.waronscience.com/excerpt.php
Anytime a politician like Bobby Jindall or a advocacy group or citizen wants to inject religious beliefs,especially Creationism and it’s disingenuous counterpart,Intelligent Design,into the public science curriculum, they are to some degree being anti-science or at least operating outside the bounds of natural science because as a rule,science does not or has no way to analyze or verify supernatural or religious ideas or claims.
Regarding the stimulus bill statement: almost nothing in this universe(or politics)is ever “as simple as that”.
Though the anti-science or ideological based attacks on science may not be strictly limited to one political party, here is a link from the Union of Concerned Sciectists that lists many areas where there has been political interference in science, especially concerning the environment.
http://www.ucsusa.org/scientific_integrity/abuses_of_science/a-to-z-guide-to-political.html
In an effort to foster understanding and education, please know that not all religious and conservative people are antiscience or antienvironment. Please take the opportunity to see my religious leader’s (Patriarch Bartholomew) longtime views and writings on the subject at http://www.ec-patr.org/docdisplay.php?lang=en&cat=10. He is one of the few outspoken religious proponents of the environment. It just doesn’t get a lot of US press. As a Greek Orthodox Christian, I am called to be a good steward of the environment provided to us. Thanks for listening.
Greg,
Thanks for your link and assurances that there are those like you who care about being good stewards. On a conciliatory note, I apologize for, as Andrew put it, my provocative words that offended you. Objectively, I know that we are all complicated beings with aspirations, thoughts and philosophical motivations that go way beyond simplistic labels or stereotypes.
There is a urgent need for our species to start to see beyond the insular walls that many of us have built around our respective politics, cultures and religions and realize that in we are “all in this together”. It will take a huge amount cooperation and shared responsibility to resolve the complex and dangerous issues we all face right now.