[Kosh]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/24/washington/24evo.html?ex=1314072000&en=51fe61534e0cf171&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss


Soooooo, what do you guys have to say?

[NGTM-1R]

How did this happen without notice, for starters?

[Kosh]

How did this happen without notice, for starters?

A certain administration launching a secret attack on evolution? This whole thing reeks of religious politics.......

[Sarafan]

You know, I really wnt to see how in the future this sort of thing will affect the US in the world scenario, its quite likely they'll lack behind in many areas, specially on technology, if things like these keep going.

[Rictor]

Since when is it the government's job to pay people, much less people of "low income", to study a scientifically established fact? Maybe I could get a grant for studying gravity, it is after all only a theory. Or maybe I could use tax-dollars to study these wild claims I've been hearing lately about some heliocentrism mumbo-jumbo.

[NGTM-1R]

I think it's called a welfare state.

[Ford Prefect]

Since when is it the government's job to pay people, much less people of "low income", to study a scientifically established fact? Maybe I could get a grant for studying gravity, it is after all only a theory. Or maybe I could use tax-dollars to study these wild claims I've been hearing lately about some heliocentrism mumbo-jumbo.

Just because there are imbeciles telling us evolution isn't credible doesn't mean that we've got it wrapped up. Evolution is still very much at the forefront of biology-- just as, by the way, gravity is still very much at the forefront of physics and cosmology.

[aldo_14]

Since when is it the government's job to pay people, much less people of "low income", to study a scientifically established fact? Maybe I could get a grant for studying gravity, it is after all only a theory. Or maybe I could use tax-dollars to study these wild claims I've been hearing lately about some heliocentrism mumbo-jumbo.

There is no such thing as a 'fact' in science, just the theory that is best supported by evidence.  A crucial part of evolutionary - and other - study is understanding that evidence, and finding new evidence, and using both these processes to refine and understand the theory.  Even gravity is not a 'fact', unless we've discovered every conceivable facet of physics without telling me.

Oh, and this is simply insane.

[karajorma]

Maybe I could get a grant for studying gravity, it is after all only a theory.

Since based on what you're saying we don't need to study gravity we must have already discovered everything we need to know about Gravity.

I'll have a sack of gravitons then thank you so very much.

[an0n]

Anyways, getting back to a discussion that isn't going to start a flame war....

I say the removal of evolutionary biology from the list was done not as some sprawling neo-con plan to attack science again, but by some dip**** little office worker with their own axe to grind.

[karajorma]

I'd say that you're right on the money there an0n. That's exactly what I was thinking when I saw this.

 I'm sure the government would love to do it but they know that the supreme court would give them a massive black eye over it so it's doubtful that they'd even try.

[Flipside]

Yeah, sounds more like a cock-up than a conspiracy

[an0n]

I never said it wasn't intentional.

I'm saying it was actively removed, but by some little retard acting on their own.

[karajorma]

Yep. This is likely caused by either one religious dickhead or a small number of them who work together.

That said if people make a big enough stink about it being a republican plot the prick(s) responsible for it will be tracked down and kicked out to save the Republicans from yet another PR disaster.