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What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

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Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#711

Post by [deleted] »

namdnay wrote: post #670
xp84 wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As far as I can tell, Trump is doing things he openly announced he would do for at least a year. So all of this is either a result of robust public support for his policies, or, (my preferred explanation) an even more robust public repudiation of the only alternative that was put forward by the other party, a candidate famous for dropping out before Iowa in 2020 but somehow was coronated the nominee without any voter…

I agree with some of your points but > You don't win by insulting, by dunking on the other guys on ~Twitter~ bluesky The guy who won did exactly all that And what on earth did Trump do to convince the “reasonable middle” that he shares their values? Who are these reasonable people who decide that Kamala spends too much time insulting people, so they’re better off voting for Donald Trump?

[deleted]

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#712

Post by matwood »

DiogenesKynikos wrote: post #536
Gabriel54 wrote: post #335

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not happy with what is going on, to be clear. But I am also not surprised that it is happening, and furthermore I don't believe there was any other alternative to this scorched earth war against DEI. If one had any reservations against DEI before, one would speak only in whispers. Now the backlash is here.

You want all scientific research in the US halted, just because the term "pregnant people" bothers you? Look, I think the term is a bit cringeworthy, but ripping up the entire US scientific system over that is psychotic.

I don't think that's what the OP or many people likely want at all. I think what the OP was saying is this is what Trump rode to power on. The left is great at eating its own. Reasonable people who were traditionally allies of the left, felt attacked and alienated because of using a wrong word. Add in the economic issues and it was a perfect storm for Trump to rise to power.

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#713

Post by tmountain »

tootie wrote: post #683
tmountain wrote: post #651

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an administrative coup, and it goes like this: 1) Remove all opposition for DOJ (already done) 2) Pass executive orders that should require congressional approval (doing) 3) Illegally seize control of the treasury (doing) 4) Broadly dismantle key government services (doing) 5) Watch politicians say, "you can't do that!" with no recourse (doing) Continually take control more and more broadly until you have absolu…

Also, ignore judges affirming you can't do that due to point 1. No one will enforce their judgements. Next step is attacking enemies. They will start prosecuting political rivals.

Yeah, and late night TV hosts.

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#714

Post by Propelloni »

tmountain wrote: post #651
Propelloni wrote: post #615

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is not a coup, because Trump is still in his lawful 2nd and final term. Until then let's call it Gleichschaltung [1], because that's what it is: bringing all aspects of society under totalitarian control. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleichschaltung

It's an administrative coup, and it goes like this: 1) Remove all opposition for DOJ (already done) 2) Pass executive orders that should require congressional approval (doing) 3) Illegally seize control of the treasury (doing) 4) Broadly dismantle key government services (doing) 5) Watch politicians say, "you can't do that!" with no recourse (doing) Continually take control more and more broadly until you have absolu…

The Wikipedia-article is pretty explicit about Gleichschaltung (what you describe) as is the definition of coup: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/coup

I'm not going to stop you calling it a coup, but your opponents will just smile and say "not true" and they would be right.

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#715

Post by jccalhoun »

dan_can_code wrote: post #3

The cynic in me thinks that the US is going to roll over and take this fascist shake down. The optimist in me thinks that the people will rise up with a resounding NO and do something about it. Right now I'm not sure which I believe.

He's an old man. I don't know whether to hope he dies of old age soon or to hope he doesn't because that would mean JD Vance would become president.

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#716

Post by scarab92 »

tootie wrote: post #686
xp84 wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As far as I can tell, Trump is doing things he openly announced he would do for at least a year. So all of this is either a result of robust public support for his policies, or, (my preferred explanation) an even more robust public repudiation of the only alternative that was put forward by the other party, a candidate famous for dropping out before Iowa in 2020 but somehow was coronated the nominee without any voter…

This is flatly false. He is running the Project 2025 playbook which he expressly disavowed. It is also reasonable to assume he meant to propose a smaller budget, not supercede Congress.

> He is running the Project 2025 playbook which he expressly disavowed

He's a conservative, and Project 2025 was from other conservatives.

You would expect there to be some overlap in policy perspectives because of the ideological overlap. It doesn't necessarily mean he's taking orders from the heritage foundation.

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#717

Post by [deleted] »

Gabriel54 wrote: post #330
avs733 wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have written a version of this twice and deleted but just can't let this statement stand unopposed. This is, almost inherently at this point, a rant and my last contribution to this thread. This simply is not the case, I know it is something that you and many others believe is that case but you are being lied to by actual racists. I say that as a white man working in STEM academia. Academia had a long history and t…

> You think that [it] is based on giving some preference, but it isn't - its based on acknowledging and working to eliminate actual prejudice. I would like to understand your point here. I agree with you that the stated justification for DEI policies is based on "acknowledging and working to eliminate actual prejudice". I also believe that they explicitly give preference to certain groups of people over others. So wh…

[deleted]

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#718

Post by _bohm »

hinkley wrote: post #214
caycep wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the irony of Andreesen now being one of those now gloating over its destruction

Is he really? Where? I'm no Eric Bina but I ate from the same table and would be happy to remind him of the petulant brat reputation he left behind in the halls of NCSA.

Read the interview that Ross Douthat did with him in the NYT

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#719

Post by jccalhoun »

Gabriel54 wrote: post #141

Despite all the hyperbole in this thread I will try to speak plainly. It has become tiring to see how DEI has affected all aspects of academia. Hiring people based on race, awarding grants to work exclusively with members of a particular set of minorities, etc. I'm sure most people choose to close their eyes to such things and move on and focus on the actual important work but there must be unimaginable waste going o…

"It has become tiring to see how DEI has affected all aspects of academia. Hiring people based on race, awarding grants to work exclusively with members of a particular set of minorities, etc."

You mention in another comment diversity in admissions but that is not hiring or grants. Do you have any examples of hiring people based on race in academia?

Re: What's happening inside the NIH and NSF

#720

Post by [deleted] »

scarab92 wrote: post #513
xp84 wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As far as I can tell, Trump is doing things he openly announced he would do for at least a year. So all of this is either a result of robust public support for his policies, or, (my preferred explanation) an even more robust public repudiation of the only alternative that was put forward by the other party, a candidate famous for dropping out before Iowa in 2020 but somehow was coronated the nominee without any voter…

Purity spiral. The left won't be competitive in elections until they learn what it is, why it results in alienation of people who would otherwise support them, and find a way to escape it.

[deleted]
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