Falsification Quotes
This quotation illustrates the largest difference between politicians and scientists. Politicians are always seeking data and confirmation that their ideologies and theories are right. Scientists are always trying to prove the status quo wrong as this is the only way to increase knowledge. Newton showed that the Greeks were wrong and could not explain all of mechanics. Einstein proved that Newton was not quite right. The quantum mechanics scientists showed Einstein was not quote right with small particles and the Hicks Boson found a hole in quantum mechanics. This is progress in science—finding previous error or incompleteness.
This is a very important quotation because it illustrates a large difference between ideological politics and science and scientific thinking. As an example, one of the must fundamental rules of conservative Republicans at the beginning of the 21st century was that “If taxes are raised, the economic consequences will be that growth and development of jobs will slow. In the last 6 years of Ronald Reagan’s administration, he raised taxes. Yet the economy grew. In the early years of the Clinton administration income tax rates were increased, and America had the greatest growth rate in modern times as well as a balanced budget with a surplus. There have been a few other examples of “exceptions” to this “rule.” There were also many examples where the rule held. However, from a scientific point of view, with the FIRST exception the rule (principle) was invalidated. Yet Republicans continue to use and quote the rule which is clearly untrue. The scientist would likely have amended the rule to reflect reality: “In many cases, raising income tax rates will often slow economic growth.” However, politicians commonly state principles and rules despite the fact that there are exceptions. As for the statement “the exception proves the rule” there are few as absurd. One exception means no valid rule.
Whitmore uncovered massive company underreporting of injury on the forms that were required by Federal law and OSHA regulations. The George W. Bush administration position had been that industrial accidents were much reduced citing the reports which the companies had systematically underreported. Whitmore who was in charge of the OSHA records confirmed the underreporting to the House Committee on Education and Labor. His agency, OSHA, tried to keep him from testifying, but he did so as a private citizen. He was then placed on ‘administrative leave’ and had no access to any OSHA records thereafter. This was an unusual time in American history, and this atypical administration censored government scientists and repeatedly refused to be truthful in Congressional Hearings. It was so bad that the Attorney General resigned in large part over his testimony to Congress.
