FRAME: Economic Competitiveness

MICHAEL J. FOX SAYS WISCONSIN HOLDS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HIS HEART: Gov. Jim Doyle is the Latest to Assert that the GOP Stands in the Way of Progess, Is Stifling Economic Growth, and that The Party Needs to Be Held Accountable

nisbetmc | October 29, 2006
It used to be that candidates posed with babies, and George W. Bush still does, especially when using photo-ops to frame instantly for the public that stem cell research is really about "research on young humans." To fight back, proponents of stem cell research are trading babies for white lab coats and instruments. Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is just one of several Democrats across the country using their support for stem cell research to draw contrasts to their Republican opponent, in Doyle's case Congressman Mark Green. He's also the latest candidate to benefit from the endorsement of…

THE TWO FACES OF MERKEL ON SCIENCE: German Leader Joins Bush in Opposing Public Funding for ESC; Adding to the Complexity of the Debate, Many Opponents of ESC Are "Pro-Science"

nisbetmc | July 23, 2006
The Bush administration isn't the only government opposing the expansion of publicly-funded ESC research. This week, Germany joined with Poland, Austria, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Malta and Slovenia in opposing a EU proposal to allow public funding for ESC research on embryos left over from in vitro clinics. Germany is trying to rally Italy to join in the EU coalition opposing stem cell research. The announcement features the multiple faces of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government when it comes to science. Just a week earlier, Dr. Merkel, who holds a doctorate in physics, wrote in…

AS THE US GOES, SO DOES AUSTRALIA: States Look to Bypass Australia's Federal Ban on Embyronic Stem Cell Research; Research Advocates Warn of "Brain Drain"

nisbetmc | July 15, 2006
The political debate over stem cell research in Australia is following a pattern similar to the controversy in the U.S. This week, after Australian PM John Howard announced that he would support a continued Federal ban on medical cloning, a decision at odds with the recommendations of a recent independent commission, several Australian states are considering passing legislation that would bypass Federal rules. Meanwhile, scientists in the country are using the ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS frame to argue in favor of research, warning that a Federal ban could lead to a "brain drain" of top…

BRODER ON SC RESEARCH AND THE WISC. GOVERNOR'S RACE: Research Proves to Be a Chink in GOP Armor; Especially When Framed Around Economic Development

nisbetmc | July 10, 2006
In yesterday's Washington Post, David Broder focused on the Wisc. Governor race, and the ability of Democratic incumbent Jim Doyle to re-define stem cell research around economic development in the state. The framing strategy is putting pressure on GOP candidate and U.S. Rep. Mark Green, who adheres closely to President Bush's position on SC research.

LEFT BEHIND IN ENGINEERING? The "Economic Competitiveness" Frame is a Major Tool Used to Sell Investment in Science; Duke University Students Question How Bad the Problem Really Is

nisbetmc | June 12, 2006
The "Economic Competitiveness" frame is one of the dominate ways that proponents of science try to rally public support for investment. Historically, first in the context of the Cold War, and now in the context of globalization, American science has warned that the U.S. is falling behind other nations in science education, PhDs, engineers, science spending etc. The strategy is a classic example of the construction of a social problem, interpreting real-world statistics or events in ways that raises alarm, mobilizes concern, and sponsors action. (See this recent Time magazine cover story…