Criticism
Critics have stated a lack of confidence in the PACHA and note that the Council, as reorganized under President Bush, held only two meetings in 2002 and issued only five recommendations to the White House. By comparison, the Watkins Commission submitted 597 recommendations to the Reagan Administration.
The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report in February 2004 entitled Scientific Integrity in Policymaking claiming, among other accusations, that President Bush intentionally appointed under-qualified individuals to the PACHA as part of a massive effort to manipulate the government's scientific advisory system to prevent the appearance of expert advice while controlling the advice given.
An example of such a questioned PACHA appointment is Dr. Joseph McIlhaney, a Texas-based doctor known for his published beliefs rejecting the use of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, and his continued advocacy of abstinence-only programs despite negligible evidence that they actually reduce pregnancy rates among young people.
Read more about this topic: Presidential Advisory Council On HIV/AIDS
Famous quotes containing the word criticism:
“It is from the womb of art that criticism was born.”
—Charles Baudelaire (1821–1867)
“Of all the cants which are canted in this canting world—though the cant of hypocrites may be the worst—the cant of criticism is the most tormenting!”
—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)
“When you overpay small people you frighten them. They know that their merits or activities entitle them to no such sums as they are receiving. As a result their boss soars out of economic into magic significance. He becomes a source of blessings rather than wages. Criticism is sacrilege, doubt is heresy.”
—Ben Hecht (1893–1964)