I doubt I need to tell any ScienceBlogs readers that the omnibus budget bill passed in December was a disaster in terms of science funding. There is still a faint hope that something might be done, if Congress can be made to act on a supplemental budget bill to restore some of the lost funding.
In an effort to put some pressure on them, the American Physical Society has set up a web-based letter generator that allows you to write to your Representative, Sentors, and President Bush with a few mouse clicks and whatever typing you want to do in order to customize the letter (please keep it civil). This being the Century of the Fruitbat, there's also a Facebook group (login required) set up to help coordinate the effort.
If you're an American voter, please follow the link, and send them a message. This would be particularly useful if you're in a district with a competetive election coming up, but every little bit helps.
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I am not American, but that sure looks like a nice initiative.
Though I do think that the main issue behind the easy with which science funding gets slashed is that science does not have much of a 'high profile' in Western countries nowadays - especially with the current regurgitation of religious fundamentalism among the Catholic and evangelical establishments alike.
I am trying to start a discussion on the widespread Western problems with science fundings over at my blog, so if you have any useful links to suggest, do come over a leave a comment if you like!
Posted by: steppen wolf | January 30, 2008 10:22 AM
I'm one of those people with the misfortune of living in an area where the principles I'm passionate about are usually diametrically opposite of my representatives' stated platform and/or voting record. This has been a wet blanket to my occasional urge to send them something. This message, though, I feel has a real chance of being listened to, and I'm happy to do my part.
Well, OK, I didn't send one to the President. I don't believe anyone who isn't screened and pre-selected gets any messages through to him, but even if I did, I don't want to chance him contacting me back, 'cause that would just creep me out.
Posted by: Skwid | January 30, 2008 11:22 AM
It sounds like a good move! The representatives are at least theoretically supposed to represent the constituents wishes.
Dave Briggs :~)
Posted by: Dave Briggs | January 30, 2008 12:32 PM
Thanks for the APS link. I've sent my e-mails to my congressmen from Georgia.
And while I can't stand GW, I'll at least give him credit for mentioning America COMPETES in the SOTU this week and again urging congress to fully fund (heck, just fund) the initiative. While he could have vetoed the omnibus bill to take a stand, that would have meant vetoing the war funding he desperately wanted. I instead blame Congress for deliberately not putting the funding in the bill.
Posted by: Harry Abernathy | January 30, 2008 2:23 PM