archived: 7 - 13 Mar, 2004 Back Next
JUNKIE EDITOR MICHAEL
CARMICHAEL
(“The Idiotocracy of George W. Bush”)
In his essay below, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. ruminates on the junk
science of George W. Bush. In a later period of history, our era may be
described as the idiotocracy of George W. Bush.
RFK, Jr. cites the thick fog of asbestos fragments that polluted
the area surrounding the World Trade Center in the aftermath of 9/11. The
asbestos fog was not detected by federal environmental agencies at the time
which led to the endangerment of millions of lives of New Yorkers and pilgrims
to the site. He points out that mercury is poisoning our environment as a
demented favor from Bush to the coal and mining industries. The deadly bacteria
from hog farms have been allowed to propagate alarmingly merely to satisfy the
fat cats in the hog production industry. The loss of arctic lands under
Bush-Cheney has led to a crisis for the caribou. At the same time, the largest
fish kill in the history of the west (34,000) has endangered the existence of
the salmon which is now heading for extinction in Bush's America.
I am an admirer of RFK, Jr. and his family. His father's
presidential campaign was the first in which I worked. While the points he makes
in his article below are good ones, he overlooks the major scientific scandals
that can be directly attributed to the radical policies of the Bush
administration.
In recent weeks, American science has come under the harsh glare
of the international scientific community. For openers, European scientists are
aghast that official American policy still fails to heed the now overwhelming
evidence for global warming. In fact, the reaction in Europe is becoming so
intense, that the Pentagon was forced to admit that some of its experts had
warned the top levels of the Bush administration that the global environment is
being endangered specifically due to America's catastrophic energy policies.
Another story confirming the Idiotocracy of the Bush Era has been
ignored in America, and it was ignored by RFK, Jr. as well. In recent weeks, the
Bush administration has ordered the National Park Service to sell books in its
shops from the Grand Canyon to Yellowstone that advocate the 'creationist
theory' of biological evolution. This pseudo-scientific hokum is something that
leaves Europeans gasping in disbelief at an administration that is driven by a
radical right-wing religious ideology.
Finally, the reputation of American science has plummeted in the
field of professional research into the effects of illegal drugs and narcotics.
In 2002, Dr. Ricuarte of Johns Hopkins published a paper on the deleterious
effects of merely one tablet of Ecstasy (MDMA). Dr. Ricuarte conducted a
double-blind experiment on laboratory animals. He concluded that the results
indicated that humans could go mad - permanently - following the ingestion of
only one tablet of Ecstasy. Although, millions of humans are taking multiple
doses of Ecstasy every week without any perceptible outbreak of madness (much
less the millions of cases that would result if his results were correct), Dr.
Ricuarte published his theory and awaited the praise or damnation of his peers.
He did not have long to wait. The leading scientists in Europe
immediately trashed his paper stating that his results could not be corroborated
by any other lab in the known universe. My friend, Prof Leslie Iversen of
Oxford's Department of Pharmacology, stated in print that the drug under
investigation in Dr. Ricuarte's survey did not appear to be MDMA at all.
Instead, Prof Iversen stated that Ricuarte's results would be consistent with an
amphetamine.
After the Ricuarte affair had been raging for months, and the
reputation of American pharmacology had been steadily declining, Dr. Ricuarte
released a truly remarkable retraction of his findings. Dr. Ricuarte's
retraction stated that his results were, indeed, bogus, because the drug that he
had used in his experiments had not been MDMA at all. He had mistakenly used an
amphetamine, and the peer review system in position in the American journal that
had published his study had failed to detect his error.
His retraction did nothing to rehabilitate the tattered reputation
of Dr. Ricuarte, nor did it do anything to restore the downwardly spiraling
reputation of American science. What it did do was to make the entire global
scientific community aware that American science has been thoroughly corrupted
by the rogue policies of a radical right wing government hell bent on preserving
profits for polluters, defiling the environment for the profits of big oil,
exterminating endangered species for the greed of the Halliburtons of the planet
and running the risk of melting the polar ice caps for the joys of SUV motoring
for the excessively thrifty American motorists who pay far less for their
gasoline than citizens of other nations. In the UK the cost of one gallon of
gasoline is now circa $6.00 - almost entirely polluters' tax - a cost that is
paralleled on the continent of Europe and in many parts of Asia, Africa and the
third world. In Europe and throughout the world, nations are now decisively
deserting the American War on Drugs. It is one evangelical American idiocy that
has had its day.
RFK, Jr. is right about the failure of the Bush administration to
heed the warnings of science, but he fails to recognize the corruption of the
American scientific community by the outrageously radical policies of a
religious fanatic who happens to reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, giving him
the power to preside over his personal idiotocracy of junk science.
FEATURED ARTICLE: The Junk Science of George W. Bush
RELATED ARTICLES: Major Error in Ecstasy Research
SHIRLEY GIVEN
(“Why don’t we hear more?”)
Why don't we hear more about the true number of dead GIs in the Iraq "War"? I've heard that the only ones designated as KIAs are those who actually die at the scene of the incident, that the ones who die of their injuries, even though they are grievously wounded and it's apparent they will not survive, are not counted and the true number of KIAs should actually be closer to 1100!! Is this true?
Junkie: Great question and Junkie has been hot on the research trail in search of an answer. First, “hard numbers” are difficult to come by because of the obfuscations of the Bush administration. Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican, tried to get the number of wounded in Iraq and the Pentagon responded after six weeks that they were unable to provide accurate information.
If Sen. Hagel does not get straight answers, what chance does the public have? Some researchers reviewing what military records are available believe that about 9,000 U.S. troops have been evacuated from Iraq for combat wounds, accidental injuries, psychological problems, infections and illness. Twenty-one soldiers have committed suicide, and that number could be higher. The military counts approximately 3,000 U.S. soldiers as wounded in battle or injured in accidents since the invasion.
“TAR HEEL TEACHER”
(“At it again”)
Tar Heel teacher is at it again. To top of a perfect week for working people, Allen Greenspan tell us that social security benefits will need to be cut and the age at which one can draw them raised. Our current administration cuts taxes for the very wealthy and now the working man will have to pay higher taxes and work longer before retirement. I think it is time to show this administration the door. What happened to budget surpluses as far as the eye can see when Bill Clinton left the White House? Tar Heel teacher wants the money being wasted in Iraq spent on needs in this country. Junkie On!
“STELLA”
Can anyone tell me where my humble political contributions do the most good? The party, the candidate, the organizations?
Junkie: Great questions Stella. TPJ has a few suggestions. Instead of giving one donation, it is important to make a number of donations, even if they are smaller than just making one larger donation. Most Party organizations take contributions online; it is easy!
First, Sen. Kerry needs an immediate infusion of money into his campaign. M/M Junkie made a monthly contribution to his campaign. You can do so by clicking here: John Kerry
Second, give a small donation to your State Party. For North Carolinians click here: North Carolina Democratic Party
Third, give a contribution to your local Democratic Party.
Fourth, give another contribution to an organization that sponsors issues that excite you. For example, M/M Junkie have strongly support reproductive choice issues and progressive Democratic Party candidates. To match our interests, we have made contributions to: Lillian’s List that supports women in North Carolina politics and 21st Century Democrats, a group that provides campaign assistance for progressive Democrats throughout the United States. There are a lot of great groups, simply pick the ones you like.
Junkie particularly likes 21st Century Democrats. Why? Your contribution does two important things, provides resources for a campaign and 21st Century Democrats trains its volunteers to work on campaigns, in effect building a base of
Fifth, give a donation to candidates your really like.
Sixth, hold a dollar or two in reserve for The Political Junkies candidate recommendations. How a Democratic Party candidate performs in Idaho can be as important if not more important than a race in your State. Simply stated, the internet lets you become involved in key, critical races throughout the United States. TPJ has featured a race in South Dakota in today’s THEM DEMS.
Seventh, and not least important, give a donation that can mean everything – give YOURSELF. Contact your local Democratic Party or pick a candidate and work on their campaigns. Democrats will rarely out raise Republicans in money. Democrats can win by building grass roots organizations. Many people believe they do not have the skills to work on a campaign. Wrong! The only criterion is desire! If you believe, there is a spot on a campaign for you. A few hours a week can make all the difference in the world!
Last Update: 03/23/2006