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The White House directive seeks to make federally funded research easier to get to.
Responding to calls for more open access to publicly supported research, the White House has directed a wide range of federal agencies to come up with plans to make the studies they fund freely available within 12 months of publication.
In a memo issued Friday, White House science adviser John Holdren also called on agencies to develop better digital systems for managing research data. The memo comes in response to a "We the People" online petition that was created last May and has since garnered more than 65,000 signatures.
The debate over access to federally funded studies has been simmering for years. Some in the scientific community have argued that such studies should be made freely and publicly available immediately because taxpayers have footed the bill for the research. Others have voiced concern that a government requirement to distribute the studies at no cost would deal a blow to the scientific publishing industry.
"We wanted to strike the balance between the extraordinary public benefit of increasing public access to the results of federally-funded scientific research and the need to ensure that the valuable contributions that the scientific publishing industry provides are not lost," Holdren wrote in his response to the online petition. "This policy reflects that balance, and it also provides the flexibility to make changes in the future based on experience and evidence."
Policy changes required
The 12-month deadline for open access applies only to agencies that spend more than $100 million a year on research and development. The National Institutes of Health have already been following that policy, but now other agencies such as the Defense Department, the Energy Department, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA and the National Science Foundation will as well. Exemptions to the policy may be made for national security or legal reasons.
"Full public access will require changes in policies, procedures and practices from the many stakeholders who participate in NSF's broad research portfolio spanning all scientific and engineering disciplines," NSF Director Subra Suresh said in a statement. "We stand with our federal science colleagues, as well as our non-governmental partners, to collaborate in accomplishing this transition on behalf of science and our nation's future."
A bill currently under consideration in Congress — known as the Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act, or FASTR — would set a six-month time limit for providing free online public access to published research. However, the prospects for passage of that bill are uncertain. The Public Library of Science, a non-profit organization that has pioneered the open-access concept with such journals as PLOS ONE, hailed Friday's White House directive but said "we now need to take the next step and make open access the law of the land, not just the preference of the president."
One of PLOS' founders, biologist Michael Eisen of the University of California at Berkeley, delivered a sharper response in a Twitter comment: "That anyone is celebrating 12-month embargoes with no reuse rights to publicly funded research just shows how much further there is to go." He called the White House directive a "massive sellout of public interest to publishers."
The publishers of some of the best-known scientific publications, such as Science and Nature, make most of their money from institutions and individuals who purchase access to the published articles, one way or another. Open-access journals, in contrast, may charge researchers a fee to publish their studies, and then make the studies freely available online. Alternatively, they may receive subsidies from institutions, or take contributions, or earn revenue from advertising and premium products.
The case of Aaron Swartz
The open-access debate figured in the controversial case of Internet activist Aaron Swartz, who faced federal felony charges for surreptitiously downloading more than 4 million academic papers from a controlled-access database at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2011 with the intent of making them freely available. If Swartz went to trial and was convicted, he could have been sentenced to more than 30 years in prison and fined as much as $1 million. But Swartz never went to trial. He committed suicide last month at the age of 26.
Swartz's death touched off a series of protests, as well as calls to reform the law under which Swartz was prosecuted. A piece of proposed legislation known as "Aaron's Law" seeks to decriminalize the kinds of terms-of-service violations that Swartz was alleged to have committed. At a memorial for Swartz held this month in Washington, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said he backed legislative reforms and declared that access to information is a "human right."
More about scientific publishing:
Alan Boyle is NBCNews.com's science editor. Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page, following @b0yle on Twitter and adding the Cosmic Log page to your Google+ presence. To keep up with Cosmic Log as well as NBCNews.com's other stories about science and space, sign up for the Tech & Science newsletter, delivered to your email in-box every weekday. You can also check out "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
If the research was paid for with taxpayer dollars then it needs to be freely provided to said taxpayers.
Ok, fine, how about the Unintended Consequences (things that happened before):
First, are you going to limit the Research to only US Taxpayers or does the rest of the World that did not fund the Research also have Free Access to US Taxpayer Funded Research.
Second, if you do restrict access to only US Taxpayers, how do you enforce that.
Third, if you do restrict access to only US Taxpayers how do you fund that, who controls that access, and who prevents US Taxpayers from handing off that Research for money to others that have not Funded the Research (like "Potentially Hostile" Nations).
Fourth, quite a lot of previous Technology and Research did not have nor was strictly done for Weapons, and a lot of Research was later used to either advance Weapons Technology or actually create advanced weapons systems.
The other Nations (including the "Potentially Hostile" Nations) that you deny access to the Research that they have not funded then can claim (protests and demanded Sanctions and Resolutions thru the United Nations):
Dictionary (Bing) Definition fascism: dictatorial movement: any movement, ideology, or attitude that favors dictatorial government, centralized control of private enterprise, repression of all opposition, and extreme nationalism
Dictionary.com: Definition fascism: a governmental system led by a dictator having complete power, forcibly suppressing opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism and often racism.
"President Obama, this is your Army. We are ready to march. Let's take these son of b!tches out and give America back to an America where we belong," US Labor Union Leader Jimmy Hoffa Junior during President Obama's Reelection Campaign.
President Obama addressed the crowd shortly after US Labor Union Leader Jimmy Hoffa Junior. US Labor Union Leader Jimmy Hoffa Junior not arrested for "Terroristic Threatening of US Citizens", "Conspiracy To Commit the Murder of US Citizens", "Homegrown Domestic Terrorism Against US Citizens", etc..
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/09/05/jimmy_hoffa_at_obama_event_on_gop_lets_take_these_son_of_bitches_out.html
"Chancellor Hitler, we are your Army. We are ready to march. All Loyal German's Must take back Germany from the Jews". Chancellor Hitler's Brown Shirts, Sturmabteilung, Armed Paramilitary; and his Political Labor Union, National Socialist German Workers' Party, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei aka NAZI.
Chancellor Hitler Ordering the elimination of other Political Parties (and did by Armed Force of his armed private Army, 1933), US Democrats demanding the elimination of the Republican Party.
"If the research was paid for with taxpayer dollars then it needs to be freely provided to said taxpayers"
Try to use that logic with nuclear submarine design, and see how far you get...
@David-475776 "First, are you going to limit the Research to only US Taxpayers or does the rest of the World that did not fund the Research also have Free Access to US Taxpayer Funded Research." Of course it wouldn't be limited to US taxpayers; nobody but you ever proposed that idea, apart from classified research (which would be no different than it is now, i.e. remain under wraps). The result of releasing the results of unclassified tax funded research would be no different for those "Potentially Hostile Nations" from the way it is now: everyone who has $ can buy the publications, and I'm sure even the poorest hostile nation can afford that. (If they're too poor to buy a subscription to Science and Nature, they're too poor to carry out any hostilities.)
If that idea of yours goes out, all the rest of your questions become moot. Putting it differently, you've raised a straw man.
If my tax dollars paid for it, then I'm entitled to the information it generated. Otherwise it's just government subsidising private profit. That's fascist.
Better idea.....
Let these "scientific communities" fund any research and get the government OUT OF IT.
Wait a minute....that would make all of Mr. Obama's R&D initiatives budget go to ZERO DOLLARS.
Ido, you never cease to amaze me what a total idiot you are. Every single issue you attack Obama for had been policy long before he came into office. You are a total joke.
Mike...that's exactly right, albeit one that is pathetic and NOT funny
I wish somebody would do some Troll Research, like on how to eradicate them off the face of the planet.
MikeO76, PRober, 6dogs,
You bought $2.1 Trillion of steaming piles of President Obama Sh!t, and now you are trying to sell everyone Sh!t Sandwiches.
Disprove what ldo posted instead of your Adolesent name calling during the Adult Discussion of Newsvine's "Get Smarter Here".
OBEY YOUR MASTER!!!!! MikeO76, PRober, 6dogs,:
From President Obama's 2013 Inaugural Speech:
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/21/16626094-obamas-inaugural-speech-the-full-text?threadId=3650897&commentId=73569137#c73569137
FACT:
President Obama as Commander In Chief since April 2009 Ordered Cuts to the US Defense Budget:
RESULTS:
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) no longer provides a lot of Funding to Universities and Colleges for Advanced Technology Research. Example: Previously, DARPA as ARPA had provided the funding to the Stanford Research Institute (SRI) for things like the Computer Movable Object USEr Interface (acronym MOUSE), etc.. Alternative Energy Research (starting with Solar Photovoltaic panels for US Spy Satellites). High Speed Communications (like previous ARPANET, predecessor to the Internet). Fibre Optics. Lasers. Gobal Positioning Satellites (also funded thru NASA). Advanced Robotics (including remote for Remote Warfare, like RQ and MQ aka "Drones"). Computer Artificial Intelligence (AI)(collaboration with IBM). Anti Ballistic Missile Systems (first PAR (Phased Array Radar)). Renewable Biofuels. Advanced Water Filteration (tested by US Military deployed to Fourth World Nations like Somalia, transfered technology to FEMA and US Army Corps of Engineers US Civilian Disaster Relief).
The U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) funding chopped into research to develop strategies, products, information, procedures, and training programs for medical defense against biological warfare, including their support for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CDC Mission: national attention on developing and applying disease prevention and control (especially infectious diseases and foodborne pathogens and other microbial infections), environmental health, occupational safety and health, health promotion, injury prevention and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States. US Military Medical Commands Advanced Life Saving Procedures (Medical knowledge transfer from Combat to US Civilian Disaster Relief, Car Accidents, etc.).
Previous Chops to the US Army Corps of Engineer Infrastructure Projects within the US, as Bridges (new and maintenance), Levees, Berms (earthen levees like those not built at New Jersey, New York, to save homes, and those that were built that did save homes during Hurricane Sandy), Dredging of Streams and Rivers (resulting in floods and droughts), Water Reserviors (droughts), Irrigation Canals (like those not built resulting in over 50% of California's Fruit and Vegetable Basket closing, majority of US Fruits and Vegetables must come from less sanitary Mexico, South and Central Americas), Tunnels, Sea Walls (that could have prevented New York Flooding during Hurricane Sandy), Hydroelectric Power, Dams, Environmental Restoration, Recreation Sites, Disaster Relief, Alternative Energy, etc..
And yes, there are many more Research Programs, Projects, that are not listed above that were also no longer Funded due to President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordered US Defense Budget Cuts since April 2009.
So by Reelecting President Obama, MikeO76, PRober, 6dogs, your Mandate of approval of President Obama's previous Actions and Results like the US Defense Budget Cuts since April 2009, you have stated that the above is not important to you.
MikeO76, PRober, 6dogs, = "Stupid is as stupid does" - Forrest Gump
david, a box of rocks has about 30 IQ points on you. You know how I know? You initially capitalize Everything that Might be a Noun. Please give it a Rest.
As usual, Tetrapoda, you have nothing to add to the Adult Discussion of Newsvine's "Get Smarter Here".
Just failed personal attacks.
From Newsvine's Code of Honor:
And just like an Adolescent, butting in to an Adult Discussion between MikeO76, PRober, 6dogs, and myself and NOT YOU Adolescent Tetrapoda.
You bitch about excessive spending, then you bitch about defense cuts. Turns out, you're bitching just to bitch. It doesn't matter what you are bitching about, as long as Obama is the target of it. Republicans are all about cuts in spending, as long as that doesn't include the defense pork in their districts that might cost them a re-election.
Yes! Let's solve the sequester by ending the war on drugs (est'd at $70 billion/year) and taking the rest out of "defense". I don't need to be the world's cop. Bring home nearly all the overseas troops and put the troops and most civilians who have jobs making weapons to work rebuilding our infrastructure. Then, let the Republicans make a lot of money. Seriously, it's better than what's going on.
Ok now I am really confused!! On one hand Obama is telling agencies to continue funding research and on the other he is willing to let the Sequester happen which would cause cuts in government spending.Where are this guys priorities? Does he not think or maybe he has the rob Peter to pay Paul attitude.
Either way it appears that Obama only has a one track mind.Its either his way or no way and he can only think about the least important problems facing this country(immigration,gun control and this).For him to actually put those aside and have him work on only the Sequester might be asking a little too much from him.You know the strain the brain problem!!!
Yes, you are confused. Obama is not in favor of the sequestor. Talk to the Speaker of the House as this is squarely on his shoulders.
Scott M-536256....."Yes, you are confused. Obama is not in favor of the sequester. Talk to the Speaker of the House as this is squarely on his shoulders."
Duuuuuh, the sequester was MR. LEW'S idea and Mr. Obama and "Pocket Veto" Reid agreed to it and was included into the legislation.
"Obama is not in favor of the sequester"......Yep, Mr. Obama was for it and now he is against it.
"If you cannot baffle them with brilliance, baflle them with BS."
BTW: American people can now say everything is Mr. Obama's FAULT. Over.
The sequester is one half of one percent of the budget. That 's nothing. Obama doesn't want it now because he won't have the tax hikes that he originally wanted. The republicans don't want it because it will cut another 500bil out of the defense budget.....which by the way obama has cut by 500bil already since he's been in office.
If the republicans had any balls they would give obama the power of discretionary cuts after the sequester takes place. We all know obama would screw the military because that's the screaming liberal way. But then he would have to look at the entitlement spending and make cuts in those areas too...I bet obama would delay an infrastructure project, or funding to the algae research, pork barrel spending on wind energy, and the Solyndra's that he loves so much. If he laid off the TSA, air traffic controllers, and FDA inspectors, the entire democratic party would be held accountable for the unemployment of millions. Personally I hope it does go through. Washington DC is the only section of the country that has shown a steady growth of employment since obama has been elected.
I don't mind paying my fair share of the taxes needed to run the country, but I am tired of the waste in ALL sectors of the government.
I am not a ONE issue voter, and the US has too many ONE issue government legislators.
This statement right here makes the rest of your diatribe useless. WHAT specifically has Obama done to give you indication he'd "screw the military".....answer, zero. It is the small minded thinking like you've just displayed that makes discussion across the aisle next to impossible in this country.
What about all the waste that goes to corporations? Or are all those tax breaks and loopholes not "spending"?
Ido, and some American people like you do...thankfully though, they're in the minority.
btw, who did you rabidly hate before President Obama was elected? I bet you worshiped Bush/Cheney
FACTS:
President Obama refused to listen to his US Military Commanders on the Ground; then President Obama demanded their Letters of Resignation when they did not agree with President Obama, as what President Obama as Commander In Chief was Ordering would result in the Unnecessary Deaths of US Citizens of the US Military or was outright Illegal.
General McKiernan, The General McKiernan War Plan to Win Afghanistan, required number of US Military 90,000. President Obama refuses General McKiernan's requests. General McKiernan discusses this during a CBS News Interview with Katie Couric. President Obama demands General McKiernan's Letter of Resignation.
General McChrystal, President Obama states to the US Public and US Congress "Anything he (General McChrystal) needs he will get". President Obama Orders General McChrystal to implement the President Obama War Plan to Win Afghanistan (stolen from General McKiernan's War Plan to Win Afghanistan), General McChrystal requests 90,000 US Military, President Obama refuses and sent 1/3rd of the minimum required (90,000), as 30,000; many of the US Citizens of the US Military and the Canadian Military Forces die unnecessarily, the Obama War Plan to Win Afghanistan fails. President Obama's Political Appointees on General McChrystal's High Level Staff see the many flag drapped coffins being loaded on to USAF Aircraft as the highest numbers of dead since 2001, they start saying "This Administration Does Not Know What It Is Doing".
President Obama as Commander In Chief Ordered the US Defense Budget Cuts since April 2009. The Democratic Party Controlled US Congress disagree since most of the US Defense Budgets will Cut the Jobs at their States (95,000 + hundreds of thousands of US Labor Union Jobs that maintain a USN Aircraft Carrier Strike Group). So instead of those Cuts, the US Military Budget is chopped, as the Funding for Maintenance for Aircraft, Vehicles, Ships, Submarines, Weapons Systems, Facilities, etc. and the Sustainment Funds for Ammunition, Fuel, Food, Water, etc., when these Cuts are not enough, then the US Military Training Funds are chopped. US Military at Iraq and Afghanistan start scrounging for everything that is now rationed (including ammunition), US Military Family Members and Relatives are sending ammunition magazines (for M-16s/M-4s), Helmets and Body Armor to US Military Servicemembers. Lacking Winter US Military Equipment many of the Northeastern FOBs/COBs are abandoned, the Taliban, Al Quada, Holy Warriors of Islam occupy these FOBs/COBs and destroy everything prior to the return of the US Military Forces after the near Arctic Afghan Winter, many of the US Convoys coming from Takijistan are attacked repeatedly, many of the Takijistanis and US Civilian Truck Drivers are killed. President Obama's Failed Foreign Polices are resulting in the loss of the required US Military Logistics Support Bases at Pakistan to support the United Nations Mission at LANDLOCKED Afghanistan, the Taliban, Al Quada, Holy Warriors of Islam concentrate their efforts at attacking the Supply Convoys coming from Takijistan, the Unsupportable United Nations, US, NATO Military Forces must abandon US Ally Afghanistan again by 2014 to be massacred by the Fundamentalist Islamic Taliban, like they did 1990s.
President Obama as Commander In Chief Orders the Reduction In Forces of 90,000 US Military Personnel to be thrown on Unemployment further straining the Veteran's Affairs; the Unemployment of 108,000 DOD Civilians. This means the remaining US Military Personnel that survive the RIFs will have more deployments and longer tours per deployment and less required Support (Logistics, Transportation, Supply, etc. jobs previously US Military that were taken away and given to the US DOD Civilians by President Clinton). This is the Stated Reason by Secretary of Defense Gates tendering his Letter of Resignation.
General Petraeus, disagrees with President Obama. President Obama makes a deal with General Petraeus to get his Letter of Resignation, General Petraeus get to become the Director President Obama's Executive Intelligence Agency, the CIA.
General Ham, Commander US AFRICOM, Libya and the US Consulate. Previously, General Ham warned President Obama about the "Libyan Rebels" being Al Quada Saudi Arabia (AQ), Al Quada Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Al Quada Syria (AQS), Al Quada Yemen (AQY), Hezbollah, Al Quada Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG), etc.. General Ham also believes that Libya is an Illegal War, as against the 1973 War Powers Resolution (Act) that limits and restricts the Presidential War Powers. General Ham obeys President Obama's Order anyway and conducts Operation Odyssey Dawn and Operation Unified Protector by sending in Special Warfare Forces before the start of the "Libyan Civil War", February; General Ham's fears of obeying an Illegal Order are confirmed as SOS Clinton applogizes to US Congress on behalf of President Obama's Violating the US Law, 1973 War Powers Resolution. During the over 7 hour attack of the US Consulate Benghazi General Ham requests sending the US Military Forces of Operation Odyssey Dawn less than 2 hours away by slow propellor driven C-130s or US Military Helicopters; instead of MQs (armed drones) or AC-130s unarmed RQs are sent, President Obama demands General Ham tender his Letter of Resignation.
President Obama as Commander In Chief Orders an 11% US Defense Budget Cut. In response Secretary of Defense Penetta stated, 2012, "A 10% (US) Defense Budget Cut will result in a Million (US) Civilians becoming Unemployed". In a later interview, 2013, Secretary of Defense Penetta states he will tender his Letter of Resignation, to work on his (Walnut) Farm to work with a different kind of Nut.
DoctorNoLogic, PRober = NO FACTS (Definition Dictionary.com: Fact. Experience, Observations).
You bought $2.1 Trillion of steaming piles of President Obama Sh!t, and now you are trying to sell everyone Sh!t Sandwiches.
President Obama demanded in a President's Proposal to US Congress the spending of $2.1 Trillion that was previously not budgeted for. The then Democratic Party Controlled US Congress (US Senate, and US House of Representatives) gladly obeyed, and also refused to create a Budget (that would reflect the cost of $2.1 Trillion of what President Obama demanded.).
The Waitress arrives with the Bill of $2.1 Trillion for the meal President Obama ate, so now he is looking around for someone else to pay.
President Obama demands US Congress find the money for the $2.1 Trillion President Obama demanded be spent. President Obama demands this in another President's Proposal to US Congress as either US Congress finds the $2.1 Trillion or "Across the Board Budget Cuts" (Automatic Sequestration) will occur to the previously Budgeted for Programs (like Medicare, Social Security, etc.), Projects (like the US Army Corps of Engineer Infrastructure Projects within the US, etc.), Agencies (like FEMA, Department of Education, Veteran's Affairs, etc.) including chopping the Entitlements and Benefits of the "47%" (2012 actual 49%, 2013 update 51%), this is a threat by President Obama to the US Congress "Super Committee", as either find the $2.1 Trillion that President Obama spent or the "Automatic Sequestration" will occur that will be so devasting to the US. By Reelecting President Obama, what President Obama spent the $2.1 Trillion on is not even a consideration for the Budget Cuts, Reelecting President Obama gave him a "Mandate" of the US Citizens (his demanded spending of $2.1 Trillion is what you still want).
Federal Spending:
Entitlements: 60%
Defense: 20%
Discretionary Spending: 13%
Interest: 7% (like Interest on Loans from China)
Obama Jive Talkin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7oWK5ewpH8
Before you even post something uneducated. Go research what the US Defense Budget actually is, like the US Army Corps of Engineers Infrastructure Projects within the US, like Bridges, Levees, Berms (like those that save homes at New Jersey during Hurricane Sandy), Beach Erosion, Dredging of Streams and Rivers (current doughts and floods), Sea Walls, etc. as many that were previously chopped by President Clinton resulting in the US Army Corps of Engineers not having the Funds for the Levees at New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina (US Congressional Katrina Hearings that later absolved the US Army Corps of Engineers of any blame).
And that is not all that is include in the US Defense Budget (DARPA funding for Research conducted at Universities and Colleges).
David
Thank you for your usual on point posts. It is amazing how the POTUS has a blind following. While I am pleased with some of Obama's policies, I know when they stink. Obama's supporter are so brainwashed they cannot face reality. Your facts should really wake up those sleeping POTUS groupies, but they probably will not.
What the Liberal groupies dopn't realize is that Clinton balanced the budget at the expense of our national defense, hence no response to USS Cole and no response to attacks in the African Embassies.
Lar-345817,
I was going to include the Short Titles and Dates of President Obama's President's Proposals (Demanded Spending of $2.1 Trillion, and Demanded "Across the Board Budget Cuts" (Automatic Sequestration)) and the Links to the .gov internet sites; but, I know that they will not even bother to read the FACTS.
http://money.msn.com/investing/11-things-wrong-with-congress
david and Ido are allowed out without adult supervision, I'm afraid. david may be winning for sheer verbosity in ranting about Obama in ways that make no sense. Thanks!
As usual, Tetrapoda, you have nothing to add to the Adult Discussion of Newsvine's "Get Smarter Here".
Just failed personal attacks.
From Newsvine's Code of Honor:
And just like an Adolescent, butting in to an Adult Discussion between Scott M-536256, Lar-345817, and myself and NOT YOU Tetrapoda.
ldo,
It does not matter whose idea it was. Congress voted on it and passed it. That means Congress owns it. Frankly the fact that the sequester is happening only shows how pathetic our Congress members who refuse to compromise on anything are.
Besides, Boehner wanted the sequester to be apart of the legislation; he even advocated for it in a presentation about this very subject. He saw it as the only way to enact cuts to social programs. He is squawking now because his constituents are against it now that they have heard who is going to be fired from their jobs or take pay cuts if Republicans do not get their crap together and compromise before March.
You get the same F rating that the fox parrots feeding you that information (that Obama created the sequester) get.
The sequester, another in a long line of ideas posited by Republicans that when used are blamed on Obama (another was the Individual Mandate for healthcare insurance).
"What the Liberal groupies dopn't realize is that Clinton balanced the budget at the expense of our national defense, hence no response to USS Cole and no response to attacks in the African Embassies."
Response against...whom? Those directly responsible, died in the first instant at the Cole.
And even with limitless power, who would we have gone after in Africa?
Even with the death of Bin Laden, Middle Eastern terrorism itself is not yet defeated.
Terrorists aren't a 'country' against whom we can take direct action in response. They're not in any one place very much. Even Israel slowly and methodically hunted down those responsible for Munich.
Of course, when Clinton did order a cruise missile strike against identified terrorist facilities in Afghanistan, he was accused of a 'Wag the Dog'-like diversion from the Lewinsky affair.
Years later, it was okay for Bush to order an outright invasion of the same place, though...
How strange.
You have been confused quite a bit lately.
@ldo and @david-475776
You can always tell when someone is posting their political viewpoint vs. someone posting actual facts.
You both are clearly posting partisian diatribe as you convieniently have left out a few minor details that, unfortunately, get in the way of the "truthiness" of your argument.
What you both neglected to address was that, in order to head off the sequester, Obama offered the GOP spending cuts (even to programs that Democrats hold near and dear, like entitlement programs) to the tune of 2.5 trillion dollars and is asking for 1.5 trillion in new revenue that would come from closing tax loopholes and raising taxes on only those that could afford it.
The GOP's offer has been "No".
Now, regardless of which party you belong to the word "compromise" means the same thing: each party gives some and each party gets some. The best compromise is when neither party walks away happy - that's how you know that the compromise was fair.
If the President IS willing to give and the GOP isn't (which is the actual truth of the state of the negotiations), then this means that the GOP is not willing to compromise.
They may be OK with that, but that's the party line they've been running with for 4 years now and they keep losing elections over it. Clearly, this is not a winning strategey.
If Obama can make this happen it will be the first thing in his presidency I am truly happy for!
As a researcher myself I find it awful that people pay their taxes to fund this research and then a publishing agency that has made no contribution to the research, has not funded the research and has almost 0 cost of publishing online makes people pay $30 per article or $10,000+ for a subscription.
Three Cheers and Eight Suggestions
The new US OATP OA policy is a wonderful step forward for the entire planet.
Here are some implementational that will maximize its effectiveness.
If this is all done universally, universal OA will soon be upon us -- and a global transition to affordable, sustainable Fair-Gold OA (instead of today's premature, double-paid Fool's-Gold), plus as much CC-BY as users need and authors wish to provide -- will not be far behind.
If researchers don't want their information freely published - don't take federal dollars. If the public pays for it, the public owns it.
As a researcher, the situation is not at all that we do not want to provide the public with access to our research. The issue is the nature of publishing. Publishing in high tier journals is a requirement for success in research. These high tier journals are for profit. We researchers pay a lot to have our own work published, and we pay to have yearly access to each journal (lots of journals, lots of money). Currently anyone has access to any research as long as you pay for the article or pay a yearly subscription fee to the journal. I'm all for making federally funded research publically available, but this is something that needs to be worked out among the publishing groups. Eliminating subscription access fees to journals may make publication fees go through the roof, though.
@starrybilly: Yes, the current situation is that expensive journals tend to be prestigious. The solution, IMO, is not to work it out among the publishing groups, because they have no motivation to change, and for that matter they couldn't change the "requirement[s] for success" even if they did have the motivation. The changes need to come from the researchers and universities (where most federally funded researchers are, afaik). Tenure track committees, for example, need to recognize OA publications as equally important--assuming sufficient review mechanisms are in place for the particular OA publications.
BTW, my impression is that in some fields, OA is already the norm, and journal publication is relatively rare. Computer science is one such field, and particularly computational linguistics (OA conference publications).
Salt in the wound. So the White House is pursuing free access for sci publications while Justice is prosecuting Swartz for the same thing. Ouch.
If Swartz stole documents that were publicly funded then he didn't deserve to be charged. But I am guessing at least some of the 4 million stolen were privately funded and is pretty much the same as if he stole published books, music, or movies. What really got Swartz was his intent to redistribute. If had kept them for himself, I doubt anybody would have said a thing.
Very little of what Swarz was accessing was privately funded. You have to look at the big picture to understand the scope of government support for such publishing: the vast majority of authors working at government or nonprofit institutions, federal money going to these institutions both directly to researchers, and also as overhead, institutions receiving instrumentation grants, all of these authors being educated by these subsidized institutions in the first place. If you are expecting to see significant private research, you have to go back to 1940. The world is very different, as most people can tell.
Let's see, Federally funded means that the federal government has used our money to fund the research and now the researchers are wanting to charge us a fee to give us access to the research we paid them to do. If a college or corporation pays for research it is considered the property of the college or corporation not the researchers property. Doesn't this also apply to research that is federally funded? We payed for it shouldn't we have the right to have access to it free of charge?
Knowledge is money. I paid for my electrical engineering degree. I don't have farmland, a gold mine, or a "rich daddy". I have my mind. When a company or person funds my work, the results belong to them. When I create on my own, the profits are mine. If the government funded it, it belongs to the people. End of story.
Read these posts, the public would be better served graduating from High School. Which "private" entity will pay for educating our stone-aged public so they can comprehend the work?
Defintion: Fact (Experience or Observation):
You, championsaints, are Observing (Defintion: Fact) that also. Do not worry, welcome to President Obama's United Somalia of America; just wait until they figure out or someone spoon feeds them that President Obama's Failed Foreign Policies resulted in: the US and US Allies Losses of Strategic Resources Worldwide required for the current US and US Allies Standard of Living and Future Alternative Energy; US and US Allies Losses of Strategic Locations Worldwide; US And US Allies Key and Strategic US Allies Worldwide. Results of a Causative Timeline.
As far as Education:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57547353/david-mcculloughs-heroes-of-history/?tag=contentMain;contentBody
Basically, we are creating Generations that will continue to make the Same Mistakes and expect a Different Result.
“This isn’t just about guns,” Vice President Biden said on Thursday at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. “It’s about the coarsing of our culture.
“Yes, that’s what I said, the coarsening of our culture, whether it’s with video games or movies or behavior,” Vice President Biden said.
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/biden-blames-violence-coarsening-our-culture
From Observation, Experience (other's posts on Newsvine) we are also creating Generations with Psychological Programmed Attention Deficit Disorder (lack of attention span). As cannot read or function beyond one or two line sentences as "Tweets".
Just think, championsaints, you will be the "Genius" in the 2006 movie, Idiocracy. By the way "High School" is not the same High School as before, just like US College and US Universities are no longer the same "Institutions of Higher Learning"; they have all been "Dumbed Down" to the lowest common denominator just like President Obama's "Level the Playing Field" instead of the harder raising everyone up; and then there is the "Politically Correct" rewriting of History (same as previous Chancellor Hitler's Ministry of Propaganda).
You want a good laugh (Don't start laughing until after you finish your Survey and have left the Campus), get a pad of paper and a pencil; go to a US College or US University. Tell them you are are doing an Anonymous Education Survey and no use of a computer, friend, cellphone nor smartphone, etc.. Ask the students: 1. Their Age. 2. Their Year (Freshman, etc.). 3. "Who is the Vice President of the US". Or you can go to a US High School and ask "How many Months in a Year". Note: Do not hand them the pad of paper nor pencil many cannot spell anyway.
So why does the White House keep ordering the removal of Federally funded statistical information, legislative information, and administration expenses among other things? Oh, forgot, this looks bad, this looks good, this looks ok, kind of transparency.
Us Citizens should have the same rights as Asians, Indians, Eastern Europeans and Russians who hack it for free.
End tax exempt corporations.
Yank,
What do tax exempt corporations have to do with it?
Charles, your right. I was just leaving a plug. But a lot of these research labs are "tax Exempt" with the owners or CEO's raking in millions by being affiliated in the narrowest way to a church or something.
Gofigureit,
What "Federally funded statistical information, legislative information" are you referring to? I'm leaving the "administrative expenses" alone, for now at least.
Everyone agrees the public who funds the research should have access to the results. Is that correct? The question is whether that access is free (that is, without cost), or for a fee, and, if a fee, how much. Is that correct?
This could be a boon to scientists if it would be possible to publish important data and progress reports that won't be accepted by research journals.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif....declared that access to information is a "human right."
Well Darrell, why don't you think about that...just a little bit more. Just who has bestowed this right to humanity. And should each human have equal access to all information. or do we get to pick and choose who gets what.
Actually, I think access to information is a privilege. I think you will find that on page 1 of how the government works.
Very complicated. Americans have been selling America to foreigners, and now Americans will be giving it away to foreigners for free.
Many European countries have already adopted similar or more far-reaching measures. Maybe the Chinese won't, but they're notorious for publishing lots of junk or plagiarized material.
Seems like a scam. America needs to live within its means. Before giving stuff away free, sharing, or being charitable, make sure America can afford to do so. There is no sense in going from riches to rags.
we already GIVE half the taxes away to other countries now that's got to stop
Let's make sure everyone understands that if this information is made accessible to the general public, that will also mean it is available to every other country in the world, including Iran, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, etc. That will make sure every country in the world can benefit from the research that US taxpayers pay for. Don't be so quick to make it all available to the world. There should be a strict control on who has access to all that research just for that reason.
you are most correct in your comment but all profits should go back to research and to the deficiet
not to these lousy punks back pockets
that make crap up to get our funding collectively
I was thinking of super smart Indians from India taking advantage of the scientific information. India has a caste system, has multiple languages, many religions, and philosophies including child rearing practices that aborts a lot of females. Are they going to treat Americans using the scientific information like they treat their own people? Is their diversity suppose to be excused away by comparing it to America's diversity? Aren't America's different Internet speeds like a caste system? How would they serve mankind using American scientific information? Have you experienced Indians? You can stay in a motel owned or run by Indians. Do they run their businesses by emphasizing profits over quality, and is that any different than the way American businesses are run? I believe that the Hare Krishna religion owns motels in America too, but I really don't know much about it. I once asked to have something repaired in a motel room that would have been very easy and cheap to repair and was told that I should move out for complaining. Have you been treated by an Indian doctor? Do they practice fatalism and lack of care any different than American doctors? I know that Indians are exploited in foreign countries, like in Kuwait for instance; so, are they thinking that exploitation is normal? Is it any body's business to wonder how they are going to apply the scientific information? Does what happens in India stay in India? What about the other countries of the world? Do we just leave it up to fate?
Without conditions, it will have all the flaws of the famous Obama bailout of the investment companies that a lot of people critisize.
What kind of gibberish are you spouting here?! Do you know anything about anything, anywhere, any time?
Well. It's a good start, because, We The People, have no say, how or where our tax money is spent. So, we should see where it went, and what the results are from the money spent. This way, we can keep an eye on the spenders if they don't mind. This information would be helpful when the spenders are up for re-election.
Hold one a minute we pay for this research and others profit privately...
time to KILL the GREEDY PIGS piggy bank them azzholes need to get a grip on reality we the people payed for it all profits should go back to funding more science and to clear out our over stuffed budget
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but there seems to be quite a bit of jumping to conclusions here. Unfortunately the article is quite vague. But after reading it a couple of times I think all of the information they are talking about has already being published in a variety of scientific journals. The issue is whether a person has to subscribe to the journal to get access to the articles or pay a fee to access an individual article to access that article.
I don't think these publications include any information that is classified. Accordingly there isn't a national defense element to the issue.
Also keep in mind that the journals do more than just publish the reports. They also select which articles to publish, provide format standards, and (I believe) coordinate the peer reviews. As such they provide a valuable service to the readers and improve the access to the information. There is much more involved in this than just posting a bunch of stuff on an internet site.
Having said that I find it irritating to be confronted with having to pay $30 to access an article based only on an abstract that has been paid for by tax money.
The major commercial journal enterprises charge so much for the work as to truly suppress public access. The profits from these journals must either be enormous or the funny money must be quietly slipped under the rug as hidden profits to the institutions or the journal owners. The peer review system is totally voluntary or Federally subsidized (by allowing reviewers to do some or even most of that work on paid time), so that can't be where the money goes. I think the competition from open access journals is a great positive influence.
As to ownership, taxpayer funding should carry with it a mandate to open up the information to everyone, and the recent proclivity for Federal agencies (like NIST and NASA) to actually charge huge fees for data and the software to explore it is just unacceptable.
What do you make of tax-payer funded research conducted by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Gilead Sciences whereby they developed 100% cure for Hepatitis C (a disease that has now reached epidemic proportions) without toxic ribavirin or interferon... and NOW Gilead Sciences refuses to continue the steps necessary to get this cure to market because they don't want to 'share the profits' with Bristol. Instead, Gilead will be seeking FDA approval for their 'half of the cure' (sofosbuvir) to be prescribed with toxic ribavirin & interferon. Sign this White House petition and demand this cure. Over 4 million Americans have Hepatitis C and it now kills more people than AIDS!
If people want them sooner, just call China. I'm sure they've seen all the data about 24 hours after it was completed as long as it was stored on an internet-accessible computer...