3 ms·

It is the duty of every scientist working at all of these government agencies to ensure that data continues to be made public, no matter who is in the White Hou

by st3v3r 10y ago

It is the duty of every scientist working at all of these government agencies to ensure that data continues to be made public, no matter who is in the White House.

kafkaesq 10y ago
They also have (as bullies like Trump know all too well) a duty to feed their families, pay the mortgages, and save for their children's education. At least until they find another job (in the wonderfully lucrative and liquid job market for research scientists of our current era). And probably wouldn't appreciate outsiders telling them which duty is more inviolable, or sacrosanct.
- st3v3r 10y ago
  Then they should have taken private sector jobs. I'm sorry, but if they do not resist Trump, then they are complacent in his bullying.
- clumsysmurf 10y ago
  Its sad that out president is a bully. The problem of how the establishment bullies the rest of society is only going to get worse. "Bully Nation: How the American Establishment Creates a Bullying Society" https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0700622608 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0700622608
- noobermin 10y ago
  >(in the wonderfully lucrative and liquid job market for research scientists of our current era) Surely you jest. I think you mean in the private sector. A scientist joins a national lab or institution not for the pay, but for academic and research reasons.
  - Filligree 10y ago
    I believe that was irony.
  - kafkaesq 10y ago
    It was, indeed, in jest. Irony and humor being one of the few defenses we have against the rapidly onsetting age of darkness.
- headcanon 10y ago
  They're not mutually exclusive. Scientists have been putting together open data repositories as a "Trump shelter" ever since election day. Data that is publicly available today can be downloaded and stored anywhere, and the government can't do anything about it other than cast FUD. Honestly, assuming all our data is preserved in some form, I think its almost a blessing in disguise. finding and downloading public datasets involves wading through a cornucopia of terrible websites that feel like they're deliberately trying to keep people out. Government science shops don't typically hire UX people, so allowing those people to get their hands on some open data services can't be bad.
  - ktRolster 10y ago
    They're not mutually exclusive. Scientists have been putting together open data repositories as a "Trump shelter" ever since election day Yet another good thing the Trump election has (inadvertently) caused.
  - jonlucc 10y ago
    This assumes there are no downsides to not receiving any new data from these agencies for 4 years (or 8).
    - headcanon 10y ago
      Yeah, that part doesn't sound so great :/
  - jonlucc 10y ago
    This assumes there are no downsides to not receiving any new data from these agencies for 4 years (or 8).
- SapphireSun 10y ago
  It's true that there are competing concerns, but that is why we hold up dissenters that safeguard the public interest as heroes. They are making a noble attempt to protect the public in times of adversity.
noobermin 10y ago
Another point to make is the USDA is not the NSA or the CIA, you can't keep a cap on mostly left-leaning scientists and expect it to hold. It won't work.
- mi100hael 10y ago
  Hell, look how many leaks were coming out of the FBI in the weeks leading up to the election. Keeping a blanket gag on any bureaucracy is a futile endeavor.
  - mschuster91 10y ago
    > Keeping a blanket gag on any bureaucracy is a futile endeavor. Look what Obama did to Snowden and Manning, and that from a Democratic president. Trump meanwhile has stated multiple times that he supports torture and Guantanamo - I don't know if I'd have the courage to be a leaker under a President Trump. One thing is for sure - anyone caught leaking anything opposing or contradicting Trump will spend a long time behind bars or worse.
    - burkaman 10y ago
      Is it illegal to leak non-classified information? I think at worst you would be fired.
      - mschuster91 10y ago
        > I think at worst you would be fired. Remember "Three felonies a day"? When you're targeted by Trump or his cronies, you don't stand a chance.
- omegaworks 10y ago
  >mostly left-leaning scientists I know it's popular to say "reality has a liberal bias" but I don't think it does us a service to keep promoting that myth.
  - 10y ago

by st3v3r 10y ago

It is the duty of every scientist working at all of these government agencies to ensure that data continues to be made public, no matter who is in the White House.

kafkaesq 10y ago

They also have (as bullies like Trump know all too well) a duty to feed their families, pay the mortgages, and save for their children's education. At least until they find another job (in the wonderfully lucrative and liquid job market for research scientists of our current era). And probably wouldn't appreciate outsiders telling them which duty is more inviolable, or sacrosanct.

st3v3r 10y ago
Then they should have taken private sector jobs. I'm sorry, but if they do not resist Trump, then they are complacent in his bullying.
clumsysmurf 10y ago
Its sad that out president is a bully. The problem of how the establishment bullies the rest of society is only going to get worse. "Bully Nation: How the American Establishment Creates a Bullying Society" https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0700622608 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0700622608
noobermin 10y ago
>(in the wonderfully lucrative and liquid job market for research scientists of our current era) Surely you jest. I think you mean in the private sector. A scientist joins a national lab or institution not for the pay, but for academic and research reasons.
- Filligree 10y ago
  I believe that was irony.
- kafkaesq 10y ago
  It was, indeed, in jest. Irony and humor being one of the few defenses we have against the rapidly onsetting age of darkness.
headcanon 10y ago
They're not mutually exclusive. Scientists have been putting together open data repositories as a "Trump shelter" ever since election day. Data that is publicly available today can be downloaded and stored anywhere, and the government can't do anything about it other than cast FUD. Honestly, assuming all our data is preserved in some form, I think its almost a blessing in disguise. finding and downloading public datasets involves wading through a cornucopia of terrible websites that feel like they're deliberately trying to keep people out. Government science shops don't typically hire UX people, so allowing those people to get their hands on some open data services can't be bad.
- ktRolster 10y ago
  They're not mutually exclusive. Scientists have been putting together open data repositories as a "Trump shelter" ever since election day Yet another good thing the Trump election has (inadvertently) caused.
- jonlucc 10y ago
  This assumes there are no downsides to not receiving any new data from these agencies for 4 years (or 8).
  - headcanon 10y ago
    Yeah, that part doesn't sound so great :/
- jonlucc 10y ago
  This assumes there are no downsides to not receiving any new data from these agencies for 4 years (or 8).
SapphireSun 10y ago
It's true that there are competing concerns, but that is why we hold up dissenters that safeguard the public interest as heroes. They are making a noble attempt to protect the public in times of adversity.

noobermin 10y ago

Another point to make is the USDA is not the NSA or the CIA, you can't keep a cap on mostly left-leaning scientists and expect it to hold. It won't work.

mi100hael 10y ago
Hell, look how many leaks were coming out of the FBI in the weeks leading up to the election. Keeping a blanket gag on any bureaucracy is a futile endeavor.
- mschuster91 10y ago
  > Keeping a blanket gag on any bureaucracy is a futile endeavor. Look what Obama did to Snowden and Manning, and that from a Democratic president. Trump meanwhile has stated multiple times that he supports torture and Guantanamo - I don't know if I'd have the courage to be a leaker under a President Trump. One thing is for sure - anyone caught leaking anything opposing or contradicting Trump will spend a long time behind bars or worse.
  - burkaman 10y ago
    Is it illegal to leak non-classified information? I think at worst you would be fired.
    - mschuster91 10y ago
      > I think at worst you would be fired. Remember "Three felonies a day"? When you're targeted by Trump or his cronies, you don't stand a chance.
omegaworks 10y ago
>mostly left-leaning scientists I know it's popular to say "reality has a liberal bias" but I don't think it does us a service to keep promoting that myth.
- 10y ago