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Thread: The direction of society lately

  1. #241
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark Walberg View Post

    Oh, and he is breaking science, too, taking back indirect costs on NIH grants.
    Need to get rid of those free thinking professors.
    I'm not even sure what is the end goal here, and it's very possible that there isn't one.

    As implemented, the cut will reduce indirect cost to 15% of overall grant, whereas indirect cost could easily account for 50% at tier-1 research institutes.

    This will gut quite a bit of research, but I'm not sure if private companies will pick up the slack. There are only so many Bell Labs, after all.

    Perhaps the more likely motive is a quid pro quo, restoring indirect cost only if the institution dismantles wholesale ethnic studies programs and such.

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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Quote Originally Posted by bigbill View Post
    Sorry, been busy. Here is the USNI article on her firing. https://news.usni.org/2025/01/21/adm...ard-commandant
    I think the issue is not about why she was relieved of command. For those reasons, I really careless.

    The issue I believe is the powerplay of evicting her from quarters with 3 hrs notice. We are talking about a career officer with 40 years service.

    If reports are correct, Coast Guard had granted her up to a 60 day waiver to find alternative housing arrangements.

    Bill correct me if I am wrong, but if a high level officer in the navy is relieved of command , are they typically frog marched off the boat or are they given a transition period?

    D
    Last edited by vertical_doug; 1 Day Ago at 05:31 AM.

  3. #243
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Quote Originally Posted by echappist View Post
    I'm not even sure what is the end goal here, and it's very possible that there isn't one.

    As implemented, the cut will reduce indirect cost to 15% of overall grant, whereas indirect cost could easily account for 50% at tier-1 research institutes.

    This will gut quite a bit of research, but I'm not sure if private companies will pick up the slack. There are only so many Bell Labs, after all.

    Perhaps the more likely motive is a quid pro quo, restoring indirect cost only if the institution dismantles wholesale ethnic studies programs and such.


    Luckily, I saved my copy of Project 2025


    Yes, the document "2025 Mandate for Leadership" contains multiple direct references to the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and its funding structure. Here are the key points related to NIH grants and future plans:


    1. NIH Grant Funding and Reform

    o The document criticizes the current NIH funding model, stating that research funding is controlled by a small group of highly paid and unaccountable insiders at NIH, many of whom stay in power for decades.
    o It proposes breaking the NIH monopoly on directing research funding and imposing term limits on top NIH leadership.
    o Congress is encouraged to block grant NIH’s research budget to states, allowing states to fund their own scientific research instead of relying on centralized NIH funding.

    2. Ethical and Bioethics Considerations in NIH Research

    o The document argues for eliminating NIH funding for abortion-derived fetal tissue research and embryonic stem cell studies.
    o It proposes an ethics advisory committee to oversee NIH research and calls for redirecting funding toward "life-affirming, ethical research" alternatives.

    3. Conflicts of Interest in NIH Funding

    o The NIH is accused of maintaining problematic industry ties, including allegations that the NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) owns half of the patent for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
    o The document highlights that NIH employees (and their heirs) personally receive up to $150,000 annually from Moderna vaccine sales.
    o It suggests prohibiting pharmaceutical companies from donating to NIH foundations, arguing that these contributions create a conflict of interest in how research is funded.

    4. Decentralization and Structural Changes
    o The document suggests decommissioning the NIH and CDC foundations, which it claims are heavily influenced by pharmaceutical industry donations.
    o NIH research priorities should shift away from "woke policies," particularly those related to gender studies.

    5. Regulation and Oversight of NIH Research
    o NIH funding priorities should be reevaluated, and certain research areas (such as gain-of-function research) should be reconsidered.
    o A National Council on Bioethics (NCB) should be reestablished to assess the ethical implications of NIH-backed research.

    Summary

    The document proposes a major overhaul of NIH funding, including:
    • Decentralizing research grants to the states.
    • Restricting funding for fetal tissue and embryo-based research.
    • Addressing conflicts of interest by limiting industry influence.
    • Imposing term limits on NIH leadership.
    • Eliminating certain research areas, such as gender studies and controversial bioethics topics.
    Last edited by vertical_doug; 1 Day Ago at 05:46 AM.

  4. #244
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Just in case you care to consider what is happening to USAID, it was all right there hiding in plain sight.

    Project 2025 (Mandate for Leadership) discusses USAID (United States Agency for International Development) extensively, proposing major reforms. Key themes include:

    1. Mission and Criticism of USAID
    • USAID is described as an agency that expands U.S. markets, supports stability, and advances U.S. national interests.
    • The document criticizes USAID for bureaucratic inefficiency, wasteful spending, and funding a self-serving “aid industrial complex” that includes UN agencies, NGOs, and contractors.
    • The Biden Administration is accused of using USAID to promote a progressive political agenda, including climate policies, gender initiatives, and systemic racism interventions.

    2. Proposed USAID Reforms
    • Decentralization & Budget Cuts: Advocates for deep cuts to USAID’s budget, returning to pre-COVID-19 levels, and shifting funding to local partners rather than large international contractors.
    • Exit Strategies & Self-Reliance: Calls for limiting long-term humanitarian programs, reducing aid to conflict zones, and creating country-specific exit strategies to phase out foreign aid.
    • Reforming Humanitarian Aid: Proposes cutting aid to unstable or hostile nations like Yemen, Syria, and Afghanistan where funds are allegedly misused by local regimes and international aid groups.

    3. Aligning USAID with U.S. Foreign Policy

    • National Security & Geopolitical Competition: The document suggests tying USAID funding more closely to U.S. strategic interests, particularly in countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and supporting allies like India, Japan, and Taiwan.
    • Middle East & Aid to Adversaries: Recommends reducing aid to nations aligned with Iran, such as Iraq, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories, arguing that past assistance has failed to improve governance.

    4. USAID’s Role in Africa & Latin America

    • Africa: Criticizes USAID for exporting progressive values (e.g., gender policies) that are unpopular with local communities and allowing China to dominate trade and infrastructure projects.
    • Latin America: Points to failed U.S. aid efforts in reducing instability, highlighting leftist governments and corruption as persistent problems.

    5. Strategic Realignment & Bureaucratic Reform
    • Appointing a Director of Foreign Assistance: Suggests elevating the USAID Administrator to Deputy Secretary at the State Department to streamline foreign aid coordination.
    • Expanding Private-Sector Partnerships: Encourages greater reliance on private investment and local faith-based organizations instead of large international aid agencies.

    Conclusion
    Project 2025 proposes a fundamental shift in USAID’s operations, focusing on:
    • Cutting budgets & limiting aid duration to reduce long-term dependency.
    • Shifting from global NGOs to local partners & private investment.
    • Reorienting aid to support U.S. national security & economic interests.
    • Countering China’s global influence through strategic aid distribution.

  5. #245
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    A lot of reading in between the lines to be done here.
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Amazing how the actual writing and analyses of Project 2025 don’t actually cover up the religious zealotry, anti-diversity batshittery, conspiracy theory wingnuttery, unconstitutional and anti-democratic (small D) crap that’s baked in. Try as they have to cover it with a thick layer of ethics and efficiency frosting, it still stinks.

    Senator Angus King, independent from Maine, had this to say about one of Project 2025’s main architects:

    “Now, the nominee before us today is one of the ring leaders of this assault, one of the ring leaders of the assault on our Constitution. He believes in a presidency of virtually unlimited powers. He's written extensively about this. And explicitly rejects, for example, the exclusive power of congress to authorize and appropriate funds for the operation of the government. He espouses the discredited and illegal theory that the president has the power to selectively impound funds appropriated by congress, thereby rendering the famous power of the purse a nullity. I am not talking about the specifics and I will touch on A.I.D and other issues, but what I'm really worried about are the implications, the structural implications for our freedom and government of what's happening here.

    “We have to keep our eye on the big picture. Not all the confusion and smoke that's going on over the last couple of weeks. Mr. Vought is one of the principal authors of the infamous Project 2025 which the president strangely hadn't heard of during the campaign but now seems to be the essential guideline for his presidency. Project 2025 is nothing less than a blueprint for the shredding of the constitution and the transition of our country to authoritarian rule. He's the last person who should be put in the heart of the operation of our government.

    “Again, this isn't about politics. This isn't about policy. This isn't about Republican versus Democrat. This is about tampering with the structure of our government, which will ultimately undermine its ability to protect the freedom of our citizens. If our defense of the Constitution is gone, there's nothing left to us.

    I think his speech was brilliant, and I hope some of his Republican colleagues took the time and effort to listen to it.
    https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom...itution-itself
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    Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. — James Baldwin

  7. #247
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Quote Originally Posted by vertical_doug View Post
    I think the issue is not about why she was relieved of command. For those reasons, I really careless.

    The issue I believe is the powerplay of evicting her from quarters with 3 hrs notice. We are talking about a career officer with 40 years service.

    If reports are correct, Coast Guard had granted her up to a 60 day waiver to find alternative housing arrangements.

    Bill correct me if I am wrong, but if a high level officer in the navy is relieved of command , are they typically frog marched off the boat or are they given a transition period?

    D
    The CG was to provide housing for a set period of time. Not necessarily the Commandant's House, but housing. If a high level officer is "relieved for cause," a successor is named and the outgoing officer leaves. Let's say a commanding officer is fired for something like command climate, DUI, or an incident (running aground, collision), they are replaced by an acting commanding officer, usually an officer who is post command working at the squadron level as some kind of deputy until a permanent successor is named. The outgoing commanding officer is given some kind of position while an investigation is completed, and if senior enough, will likely retire. A good friend of mine was a submarine commander and his ship ran aground, causing him to be relieved. That is what's called a "no band change of command," meaning no ceremony, you just pack your stuff, move off the ship, and the new person takes over.

    For a service Commandant, they are well past 20 years and there is no parallel position for them, so they retire whether or not they were ready. Service Commandants typically have a large government quarters, a big house on base. They typically have a staff including cooks (active duty military), a vehicle, a driver, and security detail. If you are removed for cause, all of that will go to the new person, who will be given the quarters and staff. The outgoing person can still have base housing, just not in the big house. The CG Commandant's removal from the official quarters is not necessarily a power play, she should have expected it and already planned a move to alternative housing. It could have been handled better by DHS.

    FWIW, during grad week at the Naval Academy, the Superintendent, usually a three star (Vice Admiral), hosts garden parties at the residence for four days, each day is a certain group of companies, and we were on the last day since my son was still in 30th (out of 30) company and Sixth Battalion Commander. The house was built in 1906 and has a big garden, a professional kitchen, a spacious dining room, and a parlor for receptions that is bigger than my house. Overall, the house has 34 rooms. At the Naval Station in Norfolk, there is an "Admiral's Row" of houses built in the early 1900s. Most are occupied by Admirals but one, The Pennsylvania House, is used for official receptions. OT, but in 2000, President Clinton met with the families of USS Cole at the Pennsylvania House before the official memorial service on Pier 12.
    Retired Sailor, Marine dad, semi-professional cyclist, fly fisherman, and Indian School STEM teacher.
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  8. #248
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Quote Originally Posted by j44ke View Post
    A lot of reading in between the lines to be done here.
    Between the lines translated.
    https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/...rfering-a87895

  9. #249
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Hegseth fellating Putin

    How on earth did we get here?

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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Quote Originally Posted by takashi View Post
    Hegseth fellating Putin

    How on earth did we get here?
    Rupert Murdoch/Faux "news". And Meta.

    These platforms prey on people who aren't really critical thinkers and haven't got a very deep view of the world. It's no accident that Hegseth is a product of Faux 'news'.

    And for those who wonder where I get my news if not there, it's not from MSNBC either or any other TV news source. I read and dissect what I read and ask myself if it makes sense or not. If it does or doesn't I may search for more on a particular subject. But so many people just absorb what they've got on in the background 12 hours per day and as often as not it's Faux 'news'. Rupert Murdoch has led us to this place.
    Last edited by Saab2000; 4 Hours Ago at 12:44 PM.
    La Cheeserie!

  11. #251
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    Default Re: The direction of society lately

    Rupert understands the power of appearance translating to authority for the populations that grew up on network news. It must be said that he is a master at manipulating people through their faith in the appearance of old school journalism, even as he rhetorically and practically sets real journalism on fire.

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