Trump Wants University Research Limited To ONLY Support His Agenda

I’ve always loved that quote about science. People who refuse to believe in it reap the benefits whether they admit it or not. So does everyone. Sometimes new information comes along or better research method is developed to test a scientific theory or principle that forces an adjustment. That doesn’t invalidate science or the scientific method – it means it’s working like it should! Alas, there are those who want to skew the results of research and science. Including our current President who’s saying universities should only research things it wants researched. And by extension don’t go proving how full of sh*t Trump, RFK Jr. and others that work for him are!

I’m not kidding. That’s the theme from Team Trump these days – Universities must only do research/science filtered through the same orange filter that creates the gunk Trumpty paints is ugly orange face with each day.  This article from Alternet explains Trump is using government funding (giving or withholding it) to exert what it calls extraordinary influence. Despite what takes place in private labs at for profit institutions university based research still is crucial.  Now we have a battle between those who believe in academic freedom and a wannabe dictator, who does NOT want ‘science stuff’ that contradicts what he and his minions (RFK Jr. for example) want everyone to believe.

The linked article offers quite a bit from Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. She holds a bachelor’s degree in French. Nothing wrong with that. In fact I said good for her that she mastered a field of study and earned a degree. Given the position she holds it’s her lack of advanced education I take issue with, as well as her experience or rather lack thereof in education in general, much less how things work at institutions of higher learning. Also let’s face it – majoring in French or any foreign language being the sum total of your education doesn’t teach dick about science and the scientific method for doing research. Unfortunately she’s who we’ve got and what she has to say is troubling:

“Universities should continue to be able to do research,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon, “as long as they’re abiding by the laws and are are in sync, I think, with the administration and what the administration is trying to accomplish.”

That last part jumped out at me. What Team Trump wants to accomplish is for people to reject all the scientific advancements made throughout history. Unless of course they can find a way to spin it to support whatever dumbass thought tumbles out of the space in Trumpty’s skull and out of his mouth!  More concerning is that McMahon wasn’t done and laid out what’s really going on which is Trump trying to exert control, and using threats and actual intimidation to get it. And what she says tells us why Trump suddenly has it in for Harvard, ranked the fourth best university in the world:

The Secretary suggested that the administration’s targeting of Harvard, the fourth-ranked university in the world, is to set them up as an example.

“I think the president is looking at this as, okay, how can we really make our point? And what are the things that Harvard and other universities are doing, that we have to call attention to?” she added.

Now we’re getting somewhere. Harvard is one of our oldest universities and let’s face it – it stands at the top of the list. Sorry Yale, you too are great and elite but you aren’t Harvard. Neither is anyone else.  Trump figures universities, places which promote freedom of thought and do amazing (and sometimes not so much) research are a ‘snake’ because they prove what an idiot he is. Hell, the GOP overall has been at war with education and learning for much of my life. They need voters to be STUPID. So if Trump considers this nations universities as a giant snake, then he wants to ‘cut off the head’ – hence his going after Harvard the way he’s doing.

McMahon isn’t the only one pushing this ‘elite universities/students BAD, good ole simple MAGAs with h.s. diplomas GOOD theme.’ Press Secretary KKKakistocracy KKKaroline Leavitt has gotten in on the action:

“The president is more interested in giving that taxpayer money to trade schools, and programs, in state schools, where they are promoting American values,” Leavitt said on Fox News on Tuesday, “but most importantly, educating the next generation based on skills that we need in our economy and our society, apprentenships [sic], electricians, plumbers, we need more of those in our country, and less LGBTQ graduate majors from Harvard University.”

Those with trade skills are invaluable. They work hard and deserve to be paid well for their work like anyone else. Trades skills will ALWAYS be needed so I don’t have a problem with funneling money to Jr. Colleges and other programs that teach them to those who enjoy that kind of work.  However, we also need people and institutions that push the boundaries of learning and knowledge.  We need BOTH. Neither should be denigrated. But ask yourself this: What if no one had long ago looked at how vaccines were all made using chicken eggs and asked ‘Isn’t there a way to get what we need a different and faster way?’ When he was President and touring a biomedical place Obama was stunned to learn how little effort was being made to move past the century old practice of growing vaccines in eggs. So he made resources available and THAT was the basis for the COVID vaccines!

I’d like to point out something that gets lost when it comes to research. Conservatives have an ingrained belief that ONLY research aimed at producing a specific desired result is worthy of resources.  They can point to the early work in developing RNA vaccines that in turn led to the COVID vaccine as “proof” of their belief system.  Those early researchers wanted to create something better than using chicken eggs to get vaccines. They had a specific goal in mind.

To that I’d point something out. Those who follow my writing know I’m a fan of TV’s The West Wing and I’m thinking of an episode where “Sam” gets a visit from one of his college professors at a crucial time. Sam wasn’t cut out for physics and his teacher shot him down when he suggested he too might have been good in the field. Anyway the professor wanted Sam to break a legislative “hold” on funding for a Super-Conducting Super-Collider.  Sam pointed out the lack of ‘practical benefits’ and the professor said something I found profound.

He noted that the x-ray and the electron were discovered via pure research just looking for whatever, and without any thought in mind about whether they’d be useful. He went on to point out we live in a world controlled by electrons and how medicine depended on imaging!  All that from scientists just experimenting to see what they could learn! My point is that yes, research with specific goals in mind is important. Crucial even. But basic research, ‘just to learn new stuff’ can turn out to be even more so.  It’s at elite places like Harvard that that kind of thing still sometimes happens. NOT in some private corporation’s labs/research departments!

I’d like to leave you with a quote that dates back a century, all the way to the Scopes Trial in which the Theory of Evolution was effectively put on trial. John Randolph Neal who was a key part of the case had this to say: ‘The question is not whether evolution is true or untrue, but rather involves the right to teach. Or, more importantly the right to learn.’  From where I sit Trump and his minions are at work trying to stop LEARNING.  We simply cannot allow that to happen.

***From Ursula*** Zoomers, if you’re able to contribute in any way, we could use help. I’ve been ill and recuperating from a brief hospitalization. Times are tough for political commentary to begin with, and that’s been the case since November 5. Half the country is in a major depression. But we need to keep on keeping on. This too shall pass and there will be a brighter, post-Trump day if we work for it. Please join us and help if you can. Thank you. Ursula

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