Comments on: McCain and Obama’s science advisors http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:56:43 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Alexandra Witze http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/comment-page-1/#comment-120914 Alexandra Witze Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:57:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/#comment-120914 There's some more info about Obama's and McCain's science advisers at Nature's elections coverage at www.nature.com/uselection - in particular see this story http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080924/full/455442a.html which in addition to Harold Varmus and Don Lamb has folks like Gil Omenn of the University of Michigan, Henry Kelly of the Federation of American Scientists, Tom Kalil of Berkeley and Burt Richter of SLAC. There’s some more info about Obama’s and McCain’s science advisers at Nature’s elections coverage at http://www.nature.com/uselection – in particular see this story http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080924/full/455442a.html which in addition to Harold Varmus and Don Lamb has folks like Gil Omenn of the University of Michigan, Henry Kelly of the Federation of American Scientists, Tom Kalil of Berkeley and Burt Richter of SLAC.

]]> By: Shane Killian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/comment-page-1/#comment-120807 Shane Killian Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:54:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/#comment-120807 Too true, Robbie. I wish more people would realize that corporatism is a government policy, and wouldn't exist without government intervention. People need to read up about the corporatism that led to the Enron scandal and stop blaming the free market for something that was caused by government intervention. Too true, Robbie.

I wish more people would realize that corporatism is a government policy, and wouldn’t exist without government intervention. People need to read up about the corporatism that led to the Enron scandal and stop blaming the free market for something that was caused by government intervention.

]]> By: Robbie http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/comment-page-1/#comment-120805 Robbie Wed, 24 Sep 2008 23:48:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/#comment-120805 Phil Plait: "Of course the gov’t screw things up, but it also gets things right. We have seen over and again that the market as it stands is not a free one. The “Invisible Hand” is being guided by a few interests, and is not free ot do whatever is best for the consumer. Adam Smith was naive that way. We need some regulation of corporations, else we get disasters like Enron. This isn’t argument by analogy, it’s argument by example. We have evidence that this is true." Those few interests are in government in many cases and you seem to think more of those few interests should be. How can you assume that politicians and unelected bureaucrats have the interest of the consumers in mind? There are already plenty of laws against things like cheating and stealing. Phil Plait: “Of course the gov’t screw things up, but it also gets things right. We have seen over and again that the market as it stands is not a free one. The “Invisible Hand” is being guided by a few interests, and is not free ot do whatever is best for the consumer. Adam Smith was naive that way. We need some regulation of corporations, else we get disasters like Enron. This isn’t argument by analogy, it’s argument by example. We have evidence that this is true.”

Those few interests are in government in many cases and you seem to think more of those few interests should be. How can you assume that politicians and unelected bureaucrats have the interest of the consumers in mind? There are already plenty of laws against things like cheating and stealing.

]]> By: Quiet Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/comment-page-1/#comment-120512 Quiet Desperation Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:34:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/#comment-120512 <i>I’m too lazy to read up and formalize my own opinion. Can’t you tell me what to think? </i> OK. Think "Ooo eee ooo aah ahh, ting tang walla walla bing bang" I hope this helps. :-) I’m too lazy to read up and formalize my own opinion. Can’t you tell me what to think?

OK.

Think “Ooo eee ooo aah ahh, ting tang walla walla bing bang”

I hope this helps. :-)

]]> By: Shane Killian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/comment-page-1/#comment-120493 Shane Killian Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:37:51 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/#comment-120493 Phil: "Social Security is doing fine. It’ll be decades before we have any real problem with it, if at all," At the risk of getting a verbal warning myself, I have to say: what is this that makes you speak with more expertise than the Comptroller General? Have you heard what he has to say on the matter? Phil:

“Social Security is doing fine. It’ll be decades before we have any real problem with it, if at all,”

At the risk of getting a verbal warning myself, I have to say: what is this that makes you speak with more expertise than the Comptroller General? Have you heard what he has to say on the matter?

]]> By: Greg in Austin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/comment-page-1/#comment-120480 Greg in Austin Tue, 23 Sep 2008 20:58:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/#comment-120480 @Quiet, I'm too lazy to read up and formalize my own opinion. Can't you tell me what to think? ;) Actually, here's my opinion: Be responsible. Health care is your own personal responsibility. If you can afford a cellphone, cable, internet and a car, you can afford health insurance. I'd say that 90% of the population will not need major healthcare until we are well into retirement, and by then we should have had plenty of time to prepare for the medical costs. It is illogical to think that if we nationalize health care then we would be able to treat every person for every illness. It is not economically possible. Cancer, heart disease and strokes are still the leading causes of death in the US. Accidents are #5, after lower respiratory diseases, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Treatments for the these are super expensive, but the fact is eventually everyone will suffer from some form of life-threatening or life-taking illness. It is not physically or financially possible to save everyone from every illness. If there is a 7% chance I will someday get some form of cancer, then there is a 93% chance I won't. Why should I expect you to pay for my major medical expenses, and why should I pay for yours? That is why I have insurance, and lead a (relatively) safe life. 8) @Quiet,

I’m too lazy to read up and formalize my own opinion. Can’t you tell me what to think? ;)

Actually, here’s my opinion: Be responsible. Health care is your own personal responsibility. If you can afford a cellphone, cable, internet and a car, you can afford health insurance. I’d say that 90% of the population will not need major healthcare until we are well into retirement, and by then we should have had plenty of time to prepare for the medical costs.

It is illogical to think that if we nationalize health care then we would be able to treat every person for every illness. It is not economically possible. Cancer, heart disease and strokes are still the leading causes of death in the US. Accidents are #5, after lower respiratory diseases, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Treatments for the these are super expensive, but the fact is eventually everyone will suffer from some form of life-threatening or life-taking illness. It is not physically or financially possible to save everyone from every illness.

If there is a 7% chance I will someday get some form of cancer, then there is a 93% chance I won’t. Why should I expect you to pay for my major medical expenses, and why should I pay for yours? That is why I have insurance, and lead a (relatively) safe life.

8)

]]> By: Quiet Desperation http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/comment-page-1/#comment-120473 Quiet Desperation Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:52:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/22/mccain-and-obamas-science-advisors/#comment-120473 Celtic: I'm just trash talkin' friendly-like :-) To summarize: :-P Celtic: I’m just trash talkin’ friendly-like :-)

To summarize: :-P

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