Dear John Boehner, Marco Rubio, Cory Gardiner, Joni Ernst and countless more....
I know you are not scientists.
Neither am I. In fact I didn't take any science after high school.
Yet, I do have a love and basic understanding of science, and the ability to inform myself about such issues. I spend several hours a week reading articles and listening to podcasts by scientists in many fields so I may add to that understanding.
I know, you're busy. So many fund-raisers and meetings with lobbyists. But, hey, you have a staff!
I have a keyboard, mouse and what is not even considered a robust internet connection.
Scientists are busy too, yet when I have emailed them with questions, they have quickly and delightfully replied, and I am not an elected official! I'll bet your staff could even get them on the phone, or convince them to come to your offices and speak with you...you know, when you're not busy with the aforementioned tasks.
I have emailed many of you as well. You were so kind to acknowledge my correspondence with that robo-letter. What a time-saver that must be.
Now, to be fair, you can not cherry-pick your scientists. We want to get this right.
Let's take climate as an example. If 97% of climate scientists conclude, based on evidence, that Climate Change (not Global Warming) is largely due to the activities of Man, then you must weigh the number of climate deniers you talk to accordingly.
Right, you're not mathematicians either. Let me help here.
Rounding down would suggest that of every 10 climate scientists you speak with, only one of them could be a denier. Technically, only one quarter of one scientist could be a denier, but even I am opposed to the dissecting of climate deniers.
We could do the same thing for evolution, renewable energy...there really is no end to the things would could accomplish this way. That is, making decisions based on scientific evidence, not conjecture and hyperbole.
No. We don't need any more Senate or House hearings of this. Not yet. I watch these all the time and I can see that little is ever accomplished in them. They are little more than a dog and pony show so folks from both sides can tap dance for those who elected them.
The recent Ebola hearings were an awful, but typical example of this. Good people like Tony Fauci were denigrated by ignoramuses in top hats and tap-shoes. Then choreographer, Rep. Darrell Issa, stated on CNN that the "public doesn't trust scientists".
I have listened to Dr. Fauci being interviewed about his position at the NIH and the passion he has for the very important work he does, long before the Ebola outbreak in western Africa came about.
How many of you knew his name or would recognize his face before Ebola hit the news? Did you know he first arrived at the NIH in 1968?
Rep. Billy Long suggested that Drs. Frieden and Fauci would be served well to read an article in Bloomberg to get information on Ebola.
If you want to dance, put it on Youtube or some other appropriate venue. Oh, if you truly want feedback from the real world...leave commenting turned on!
Become adequately informed first! Then, maybe we can have hearings that will lead to something productive, not reductive.
So, let's not start the never-ending list of "what you are not" and focus on what you were elected to be.
If you truly want to do what is right for those you represent, whether they voted for you or not, you will have to do more than what you have done so far.
It's not easy, but you should have realized that before you threw your hat in the ring.
Your friend, TeeDog.