We believe in science. Our solutions are science-based. These are the reassurances of our new Democratic Administration. For millions of us, that is a huge relief.
The previous White House famously requested the CDC cease the use of science-based or evidence-based terminology. ( https://www.newsweek.com/trump-bans-cdc-using-these-seven-words-) The previous administration preferred “The “CDC bases its recommendations on science in consideration with community standards and wishes.” Community standards arose as a legal term in the 50’s in regard to pornography and obscenity laws. That science recommendations would be filtered through local sensibilities and sensitivities was worrisome. Science-based means that policy decisions are made using scientific methods. Observe, question, propose explanation, predict, test, repeat- This is the scientific method. When you implement policy on an issue, scientific research on that issue should support your decision. Policy reflects the facts as known.
Science-based is based on scientific method. Science-based is more than “our approved professional says.” In the last year of quarantine a number of announcements have purported to be science-based from both administrations. Last year we were warned against mask wearing from our public health officials. Several months later, those same public health officials admitted that it was politics not science that prompted that message. There was a concern that PPE would not be available for medical personnel if the public was advised to mask up. Likewise, there was a recommendation when the vaccines became available that persons who had contracted covid19 should wait 90 days before vaccinating. This too was a political consideration that vaccines might not be available for essential workers rather than a scientific assessment of vaccine after infection. The CDC has changed it’s recommendation of social distancing of 6 feet apart to 3 feet apart. They claim to have new science after a year of 6 feet messaging and during a week with news reports of infection from 20 feet. The new recommendation does support 100% opening of schools which is a key political goal. “Science-based” seems to be a tool to avoid frank and open discussion.
CT is getting some positive reviews for getting “shots in arms.”The Democratic State Government of CT set a vaccination schedule based on age alone. It is not science based and does not purport to be, The Governor of NY forced covid infected patients into nursing homes, That was not science based, There has been pushback from the disability advocacy community on both policies but not from many other professionals.
Last fall, October 2020 the Philip Morris International released a white paper calling for scientific evidence to guide future public and personal decisions. “The white paper details the findings of an international survey conducted by independent research firm Povaddo for PMI, which highlights the public’s desire for companies to develop solutions based on science, and its expectation that these companies should only be allowed to make claims which are substantiated by science…Yet, while 84 percent also supported governments taking the latest science into account when making policy decisions, only 51 percent thought governments were currently making a good job of it… A substantial majority in the survey indicated that science was important in influencing their personal decisions, such as when to return to a normal working life (78 percent), when to take public transport (68 percent), and when to attend large events.” (59 percent)(.https://www.pmi.com/media-center/news/in-support-of-the-primacy-of-science.) The public overwhelmingly believes science and wants to hear the truth. Science-based should be more than a slogan. The media frames cynicism of the citizenry toward the government’s policy pronouncements as anti-science. In fact, the public desires robust science and transparency about policy decisions. Like Healthcare for All and living wage, science-based policy is supported by the majority of the citizenry. ” Progressive” politicians are failing us and our democracy here too.
Violets in the Grass 