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November 30, 2009

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Letter: Scientific integrity should be an issue

Monday, Oct. 29, 2007 | 7:09 a.m.

Speaking from the background of a science teacher (22 years) followed by 10 years as a fisheries scientist, I would like to make the following observations and plea :

A scientist's job is to find out the facts that explain how some natural system works.

The government scientist's job is to do this and make the data available to inform decisions made in the public's name.

The politician's job is to make the decision, form the policy, or oversee the agency so doing.

The citizen's job is to elect politicians that will make decisions based on the best information.

In the coming elections, let we citizens elect politicians who will rely on the integrity of the science to make decisions, not interfere, suppress or distort facts that are inconvenient to vested interests. The current federal administration has too many instances of these negative activities in the arena of natural resources.

I believe we should make scientific integrity an issue in the campaigns of all parties and candidates.

William Belknap, Boulder City

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