[hurley_108]

Eisensapper Eisensapper:

No, at the most she is a poor child who doesnt get enought attention at home.

She's good for a laugh though.

[bootlegga]

ridenrain ridenrain:

Or someone who spent a long time out of the country? Perhaps their new Manchurian Candidate?

The 'Manchurian Candidate' as you put it is an apt description of a science minister who won't say whether or not he believes in one of the main tenets of science. I wonder what his position is on stem cell research? Cloning? Or any of the other controversial biotechnologies being researched nowadays.

I remember how much Conservatives here crowed about Gordon O'Connor getting chosen as Minister of Defence, BECAUSE he had experience in the ministry he ran. But now, you're all saying personal experience/beliefs don't matter?

Sheesh...

[hurley_108]

bootlegga bootlegga:

ridenrain ridenrain:

Or someone who spent a long time out of the country? Perhaps their new Manchurian Candidate?

The 'Manchurian Candidate' as you put it is an apt description of a science minister who won't say whether or not he believes in one of the main tenets of science. I wonder what his position is on stem cell research? Cloning? Or any of the other controversial biotechnologies being researched nowadays.

If only they had asked those questions - they're much better ones.

$1:

I remember how much Conservatives here crowed about Gordon O'Connor getting chosen as Minister of Defence, BECAUSE he had experience in the ministry he ran. But now, you're all saying personal experience/beliefs don't matter?

Sheesh...

[sandorski]

"Performance" on the job really isn't the issue here. Especially if one just got the Job(I didn't notice any length of time mentioned). Prior to being Hired, most People are first vetted for Qualifications. In Public service there's an added qualification of not being in "Conflict of Interest". I think such a Conflict exists when someone holds a fundamental position at odds with the Ministry it is meant to lead.

While we're at it, why not a Afghan War Protestor/Anti-Military Hippy for Minister of DND? Greenpeace for Ministry of Industry? Convicted Polluter for Ministry of the Environment? etc etc etc

[hurley_108]

hurley_108 hurley_108:

What's interesting about that article is that Goodyear's explanation of evolution bore no resemblance to what evolution really is, but the writers of the article didn't seem to notice...

Someone did though:


Goodyear continues to deflect questions on evolution beliefs

$1:

... Mr. Goodyear, the Minister of State for Science and Technology, attempted to clarify his views on the origins of humanity in a Tuesday interview on the CTV program Power Play; he said he believed in evolution. However, when he provided the show with examples of the sort of evolution he believes in, he left some experts in developmental biology wondering if he understands the concept.

“We are evolving every year, every decade,” Mr. Goodyear said on the television program. “That's a fact, whether it is to the intensity of the sun, whether it is to, as a chiropractor, walking on cement versus anything else, whether it is running shoes or high heels – of course we are evolving to our environment.”

Brian Hall, a biology professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax and an expert on evolution, said Mr. Goodyear is mistaken.

“This is not evolution,” he said of Mr. Goodyear's examples. “The minister is confusing evolution with lifestyle adaptation,” said Prof. Hall.

“We adapt to the intensity of the sun by staying in the shade, using more sunscreen, wearing a hat. We adapt to walking on cement by wearing more comfortable shoes,” Prof. Hall said.

These are not genetic changes that are passed to the next generation, he said. They aren't going to add padding to our children's or grandchildren's feet and help them walk on concrete, or help their skin withstand more of the sun's harmful rays. ...

[ShepherdsDog]

This entire issue is a complete,'whoppity-fucking-doo'. As long as he does the job who cares? It's not like he determines what other people believe. Just as long as he's no more of a screw up in his position as anyone else.

[roger-roger]

You'd think a science minister would be able to answer a simple science question, or at least have some concept of what they are asking.

[hurley_108]

Eisensapper Eisensapper:

8O You'd think a science minister would be able to answer a simple science question, or at least have some concept of what they are asking.

No kidding. Apparently he took a physics course, and a chemistry course, though, at university. No biology though. I didn't either, but even I knew he was BSing about what evolution is.

[roger-roger]

It shouldnt matter what he took in school, I also never took a post secondary biology course but I too know what evolution, and understand why it is the accepted theory of the diversity of life.

[ShepherdsDog]

Eisensapper Eisensapper:

8O You'd think a science minister would be able to answer a simple science question, or at least have some concept of what they are asking.

Ministers are just temporary faces. It's the bureaucrats that run the departments and they seem to be doing an OK job.

[hurley_108]

Eisensapper Eisensapper:

It shouldnt matter what he took in school, I also never took a post secondary biology course but I too know what evolution, and understand why it is the accepted theory of the diversity of life.

Good point.

[roger-roger]

It just smacks of ignorance though, when he became a Science minister he should have made science his life. read the newest jounals, kept up on papers, stayed inform. If he is just going to be a talking head that gets advice from his aids what is the point in having him in the position, made his aid the minister.

[ShepherdsDog]

Well, how many Ministers of Health were health care professionals? How many Ministers of Education were educators, and the list goes on. Most of the ministerial portfolios handed out are determined by how far up the leaders ass you are, or where you rank in the party. Those with greater exposure get the choice portfolios. A pre existing knowledge or experience in the field seems to play little to no role in who becomes minister of what.

[Arrow]

I'd say today's Globe editorial cartoon sums things up nicely

http://tinyurl.com/ca5yr3

[hurley_108]

ShepherdsDog ShepherdsDog:

Well, how many Ministers of Health were health care professionals? How many Ministers of Education were educators, and the list goes on. Most of the ministerial portfolios handed out are determined by how far up the leaders ass you are, or where you rank in the party. Those with greater exposure get the choice portfolios. A pre existing knowledge or experience in the field seems to play little to no role in who becomes minister of what.

There's a difference between making ministers be experts in the field(s) their ministry oversees and ministers at least having a cursory understanding of the field. A minister of science not knowing how evolution works is not like a minister of health not being a health care professional; it's like a health minster not knowing the difference between a virus and a bacterium, and that antibiotics will only work on one of the two.