While we’re on the subject of statistical sophistry, the Bush administration provides another stunning example of the “garbage in, garbage out” axiom, by once again abusing math in the service of undermining the Endangered Species Act. As reported today in the New York times (“New Risks for Salmon“), the administration proposed rolling back restrictions on millions of acres in the Pacific Northwest that had been designated critical salmon habitat just four years ago. To justify this policy reversal, the administration continues its established habit of distorting science:
Earlier this year, for instance, the administration proposed to count millions of hatchery-raised fish as wild fish – a bit of mathematical casuistry that would instantly make wild populations seem healthier than they are, undercut the need to keep wild salmon on the endangered species list and give the green light to federal agencies to drop protections against logging, homebuilding and other forms of commercial development.
Sure, why face the real problems surrounding our region’s steadily declining wild salmon populations when you can fix the math on paper by redefining the word “wild”?
Of course this is the kind of reality distortion — hatchery salmon are “wild”, recounts are not more accurate than counts — that we’ve come to expect from neo-con politicians, pundits, and pop-pundit wannabes (like Stefan), relentless in their determination to create the illusion that the real world jibes with their ideologically-pure, free-market fantasies.
And on a more disturbing, local note, just a word of warning to all you self-described “Dinocrats” out there, smug in your declaration of partisan independence. Governor-suspect Rossi ran on a platform consisting almost entirely of deregulation, and if you think he’s going to balance the radical anti-environmental agenda being imposed from DC, you’ve got another thing coming.
But then, in another four years we can save wild salmon again, this time by extending the definition of “wild” to include particularly randy farm-raised fish.
I really think you should read Rossi’s Forward Washington plan and I’ll try to post the names of the environmental boards Dino Rossi sits on. AFTER the big game!
What the….?
Rossi’s Forward Washington plan is crap. Rossi is no environmentalist. He could sit on the board of the Sierra Club for all I care. He was put into office by AWB and BIAW dollars, not to mention the backing of the timber industry.
I suppose I could go dig up all of Chris Gregoire’s plans for transparency in government. How’s that, Josef?
Respectfully: No, no and no. Here’s why: Gregoire has a track record of hiding documents, of her office and the agencies she’s supposed to keep out of court being busted for hiding public documents. Repeatedly. Plus, I’ll drop the A-bomb of my own horror story. You dig up Gregoire schemes, I dig those up. So please don’t – we’ve got REAL work to do.
Besides, I wouldn’t be backing a candidate who didn’t face the media and the public after initiating a historic hand recount but instead launched lies about her opponent (who said that if ANY candidate continued recounting and won, they’d be “illegitimate”) from the comfort of an Olympia bunker. I am going to stop there and go get you those boards… and then let’s call a truce, eh?
Jenny–remember Rossi is for breast cancer…at lease that’s what Ms. Gregoire would have you believe. I suppose Chris should have checked on how Rossi’s mom died and that his sister has it….but that’s ok. Under Gregoire we would slide to the very lowest form of government….a MORONOCRACY!!!
Comment by Josef— 12/6/04 @ 5:42 pm
As promised, your new Governor-ELECT Dino Rossi serves on the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust and the Nature Conservancy boards. Yes, the Washington Conservation Voters gave him a low rating – but they refuse to list on their website a set of core principles or anything of the sort except the overbroad “We are focused on electing and supporting environmentally responsible candidates for public office.” What does that mean? More CAOs that take away peoples’ right to clear their land of blackberries?!?
I hope this resolves the matter…
I dont have the docs to back this up…so sue me…but IF i remember correctly, the primary reason scientists changed the farmed Salmons appearance was specificly so they WOULD NOT get counted with the true wild fish population.
What I’m refering to (for those who may not know…again, unless i’m completly crack-brained), is a missing dorsal fin. Only wild Salmon have it.
But that’s okay…the Bush Admin can take steps back, but should be a supprise when eco-terrorism is on the rise.
You know, just because Rossi is on a couple environmental group boards, does not make him an environmentalist. Rob McKenna used to be on Sound Transit’s board and he was staunchly opposed to light rail. They eventually kicked him off because he was hindering their work.
Here’s something Chris Gregoire will do to broaden transparency in government:
Demand accountability in transportation projects.
When the state spends money, it is investing on behalf of taxpayers their hard-earned dollars. With that comes an enormous responsibility. That is why as the state of Washington begins to make key investments in transportation projects, Chris Gregoire will hold contractors accountable for their work. As Governor, she will put on-line, a public searchable database of transportation projects, their timetables, their budgets, and their contractors. Not only will this allow the public to hold contractors accountable, but it will also provide necessary information to the state so that it knows who to trust with future business – and who not.
Be sure to check out Permanent Defense’s new community forum!
this is a verry stupid web site