A war on... science?

[morsla]

So, it now seems that America's waging a War On Science. In the interest of protecting its citizens from themselves, the Consumer Product Safety Division has outlawed many chemicals that can be used in the manufacture of fireworks, rockets, or recreational drugs.

Sounds reasonable so far... or does it?

"By legislating away amateur chemistry and rocketry, we are depriving an entire generation of potential innovators that same chance. All in the name of a little extra false security. “People who want to make meth will find ways to do it that don’t require an Erlenmeyer flask. But raising a generation of people who are technically incompetent is a recipe for disaster.” says Bill Nye."
(America's War on Science)

So, children's chemistry sets are being gutted or removed from sale, cutting off something that's fostered a curiosity about science in generations of kids. That's only a part of the problem, though - the restrictions don't stop at the chemicals themselves. Whatever the intent, the devil's in the details...

"It is illegal in Texas, for example, to buy such basic labware as Erlenmeyer flasks or three-necked beakers without first registering with the state’s Department of Public Safety to declare that they will not be used to make drugs. Among the chemicals the Portland, Oregon, police department lists online as “commonly associated with meth labs” are such scientifically useful compounds as liquid iodine, isopropyl alcohol, sulfuric acid, and hydrogen peroxide, along with chemistry glassware and pH strips."
(Wired 14.06 Don't Try This at Home)

"I'm sorry sir, you'll need a registration card to purchase that beaker." Yet some of those states don't require permits for firearms...

Comments

[designadrug.livejournal.com]

The first story is not funny in the wider context of health and medicine. In terms of "Dumb Americans" it's amusing. The second story is damn hilarious. However recent research [New Scientist; "Time For Double Strength Placebo?" (I think)] has shown that placebo has a biochemically detectable effect on dopamine receptors!