07) NO FACTS PLEASE, WE'RE TORIES

 

People's Voice Editorial

 

            The federal government's barbaric destruction of Fisheries and Oceans libraries is just the latest example of the Harper Conservatives' hatred of science. There seem to be two basic varieties of Tory in the PM's caucus: neo‑cons who think the only numbers worth reading are corporate profit lines, and social dinosaurs who believe that all truth is found in ancient religious texts. Often the two overlap, although the Prime Minister does appear to favour neoliberal economic doctrine over fundamentalist dogmatism.

 

            This disdain for science has a wide streak of hypocrisy. After all, Tory cabinet ministers happily enjoy the benefits of 21st century technology. Rarely do we see Jason Kenney riding a horse to Parliament, or Lisa Raitt using an abacus to count railway oil spills. Nor does the Conservative Party's contempt for the long form census prevent them from hiring polling firms which use modern survey techniques.

 

            And yet, hundreds of federal programs and research facilities have been shut down or cut back by this government, which apparently believes that science is much too dangerous to be left to scientists or (gasp) the general public. Compiled by the Canadian Association of University Teachers and the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, the list is heavy on public services which seek to study the environment or to protect Canadians from harm.

 

            The government's tired excuse is that these programs and facilities cost money. But as the saying goes, if you think education is expensive, try ignorance. Canadians will pay dearly for this short‑sighted policy, which threatens to saddle working people with huge long‑range costs for preventable ecological and social catastrophes. Count this as one of the most important reasons to drive the Harperites out of office, before the damage is irreparable.

 

(The above article is from the January 16-31, 2014, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading socialist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)