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> We need a president who took as much interest in science as
> Jefferson or Kennedy.

or John Quincy Adams, who tried in vain to persuade a pre-Civil War Congress to approve funds for a National Observatory. Late in his life, J. Q. Adams laid the cornerstone for the nation's first major observatory, the Cincinnati Observatory, where the former president delivered his last public address. More info:

< http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/history.html >

> Get enough scientists, or people who are interested in
> science, to even modestly inundate politicians with books

Politicians are so busy, if they were interested in reading science books I think they would already be doing so. If we are lucky, an aide may be assigned to read such a donated book. Otherwise, maybe it would be placed on a bookshelf some place where the public could see it--or maybe it would be donated to a library.

Another idea might be to donate such books directly to public libraries--in honor of a politician, with the politician's name on the bookplate and the library sending notification of the honor to the politician. Maybe this would get their attention!

gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Project Director,
Friends of the Zeiss < http://friendsofthezeiss.org >
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
SPACE & SCIENCE NEWS, ASTRONOMICAL CALENDAR:
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/#news >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: 
  < http://andrewcarnegie.tripod.com > 
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh: 
  < http://incline.pghfree.net >
* Public Transit:
  < http://andrewcarnegie2.tripod.com/transit >


--- On Wed, 11/19/08, Wayne Watson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Wayne Watson <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [OT] An Idea for Promoting Science in the World of Politics
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 9:41 AM
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> 
> I think the following idea might help make a difference in
> getting the attention of politicians on scientific matters
> in the public limelight. 
> Here's the idea:  
> Get enough scientists, or people who are interested in
> science, to even modestly inundate politicians with books
> such as the following:
> 
>   /Power to Save the World, The Truth about Nuclear Energy
> by Gwyneth Cravens, 2007/
> 
> /Physics for Future Presidents by Richard A. Muller, 2008./
> 
> Each individual might consider sending one to their
> favorite legislators or members of the executive branch with
> the suggestion that if they can't use it, then they can
> donate it to a library in the area they represent.
> 
> If enough people send them, then I think the possibility of
> raising the attention of politicians with such books and
> their topics might go along way towards getting them to act
> by knowing the facts.  If not, then perhaps the libraries
> and public will benefit from the donations.
> 
> I happened to choose nuclear power and physics in this
> instance, but it could be equally applicable to evolution,
> energy, medicine, physics, biology or other areas of science
> where there is controversy.
> 
> We need a president who took as much interest in science as
> Jefferson or Kennedy. Maybe Obama will come through. At
> least, at this point, he has said he'd double funding to
> the NIH.
> 
> Comments?
> -- 
>           Wayne Watson (Watson Adventures, Prop., Nevada
> City, CA)
> 
>             (121.01 Deg. W, 39.26 Deg. N) GMT-8 hr std.
> time)
>            *            'That's one small step for
> a man; one giant leap for
>             mankind.' Neil Armstrong
> 
> **               A thin man ran... makes a large stride...
> left
>               planet... pins flag on moon... on to Mars!*
> //                               Web Page:
> <www.speckledwithstars.net/>
> 
> ***********************************************************************


      

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