Posted by Badger
on November 2, 2009, 7:50 pm, in reply to "Re: Johnson's Stalinist method, order a review, less the shot in the back of the head"
In fact I don't think the government has politicised this. The drugs debate has been politicised for a long time. This is what Professor Nutt neglected to take into account: the drugs debate is one of many (others include immigration, Europe, armed conflict) which are rooted in instinct, hysteria and emotion, not reason. Any reasonable person knows Nutt is right. Johnson probably knows it too. He also knows that the public won't wear this: he knows that the media have pushed a hard line on drugs for decades and they, and their readers, won't permit any rational intervention by anyone, scientific or governmental.
Notice the Tories back Labour on this, not because they really believe in the "war on drugs" rhetoric (Cameron's opinion has turned inside out since he became leader), but because the majority of the voters do. The scientists, meanwhile, don't get it. They are trained to think rationally, so they can't get it. Politicians, on the other hand, have to.
By the way, it appears that these advisors are unpaid.
--Previous Message--
: Yes Keith, I'm also struck by that, though I
: have no knowledge of the scientific
: community. I hesitate to say the government
: has politicised an otherwise an a-political
: professional strata ( I suspect that
: probably a myth and they're not). But it has
: certainly stung them into vocal public
: support for David Nutt.
:
: It will be interesting to see how far it
: goes. But in these time, where there is no
: opposition either within or without
: parliament, or within New Labour, the actual
: political repercussion of these events are
: invisible for some time.
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: I've been mildly surprised that the bloke's
: colleagues have resigned in solidarity,
: usually they look the other way and keep
: their handa on the money. Clearly Johnson
: has blundered. That's worse than a crime.
:
:
:
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