SCIENCE HATES KANSAS CITY!!!

A look at the brain drain confronted by a federal agency in the midst of a forced move . . . The upside is that makes room for even more local hires. Checkit:

Scientists flee USDA as research agencies move to Kansas City area

A Trump administration decision to move researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to the Kansas City area is threatening to spark the flight of more than half of the staff selected to move, gutting the agency of its top scientific voices.

Comments

  1. There are colleges all over around here full of qualified people.

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  2. Should move the entire Federal Government here and hope to gut it too.

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  3. Most people don't understand what an absolute travesty this is. This is all because the USDA has published studies that Trump doesn't like so in his typical childish behavior this is his response. This has nothing to do with saving money and everything to do with retaliation. Read a book called the Fifth Risk by Michael Lewis. One of the departments he covers in depth is the USDA. You will be surprised at the wide scope of things that falls under the USDA umbrella. It can't be overstated what a huge problem this move is. This will be hundreds of years of experience walking out the door. Years and years of projects being studied and handled by people who know what is going on will vanish. I'm a chemist, if the department moves here do you think I'm applying? Hell no. Why would I? So Trump can get mad and fire me if I come to a conclusion that him and/Or some corporations don't like? Think other qualified people will quit their job to go work at this shitshow? One study says the move alone will cost between 83-183 million.

    https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/453193-scientists-flee-usda-as-research-agencies-move-to-kansas-city-area

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  4. ^^^Hold up there pal, logic like what you just stated isn't allowed on the TKC comments site. You will now be tagged as a lib and owned by the racist morons who frequent TKC comments.

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  5. Oh the internet spoke so it must be true. Most of the USDA research is conducted out here but the elites don’t want to live amongst us hicks.

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    Replies
    1. I just drove from Niagara Falls, through Vermont, and into New Hampshire. Know what is out there? Farms. Farms are everywhere, not just the Midwest. Read the link above. Turn off Fox for 5 minutes and learn something that is actually true.

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  6. ^^^Now drive through the DC metro area and count the farms.

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  7. ^^and you stay in Frogville rube.

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  8. 10:42 - How do you know "most" of the research is conducted "Out here"? So does that mean that they fly out here and put together data and fly back and do the lab work/results analysis there?

    I mean, really, what the fuck is your point? That someone who lives and works, maybe has extended family nearby, has children in schools that they'd rather not uproot them from, doesn't want to move 2000 miles away to the midwest? All at the whims of some dickhead running our country who doesn't believe in facts and science that don't suit his needs? So that makes them elitists? Are you usually this big of an asshole in public or just incognito on the internet.

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  9. 2:26 Does it hurt to be that dumb? Let me spell out what Trump is trying to do: he is trying to destroy the USDA, plain and simple. All because corporations like Bayer and Monsanto want him to. Trump himself has no idea why he doesn't like it, he's just been told by campaign contributors to decimate it. California by far produces the most food consumed by Americans so by your logic why shouldn't it be relocated there? You enjoy not getting salmonella or Ecoli? Well, your dumb ass cult leader wants to do away with with the very people who protect you. But, but ,but the jobs aren't going away, just moving. You're wrong. This move is intentional to destroy the agency. Decades of research by people who know literally everything about what they are researching will disappear. Lord knows you and your ilk are anti-science. Do you consider this entire ridiculous scenario owning the libs? What a way to go through life. I got Listeria but those liberal scientists lost their jobs!!! You are literally the living embodiment of the movie Idiocracy. Please, do not reproduce.

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  10. ^^^ NAILED IT.

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  11. The argument that Trump is trying to "destroy" the USDA is complete BS. Just like the move of BLM to Western States, Trump is moving agencies closer to the constituents they serve. These crazy conspiracy theories take away any credibility of detractors of the move. Argue cost, argue loss of staff, argue reasons DC is better suited to have USDA offices. An equally feasible conspiracy theory is DC voted 90% for Hillary, the staff is politically biased, their research focus is skewed, and USDA needs to be moved to a more balanced location where there is more diversity.

    It's rough on the agency employees - move to an unfamiliar city a thousand miles away or look for another job. That's not easy. Those of us in the private sector are faced with these situations on a regular basis. It sucks. The government shouldn't be an oasis from the real world. There is a compelling reason to move USDA staff to KC and ultimately the agency will likely be strengthened as a result of the move.

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  12. 9:06: Your comments are exactly the type of condescending and elitist views Washington suffers from - the perception that there is no way a federal agency can be properly staffed, good research can be done, public policy will be served, and the USDA will thrive in Kansas City. Just a bunch of Trump voters that are "anti science"? Really? Why does the area have one of the highest concentrations of Ag science companies in the nation? Must be a bunch of "yokals" a part of the Trump cult that's plotting with "big business" to destroy the environment.

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  13. ^^^ Exactly what research is skewed? I'm going to need specific examples. Your argument is hilarious. I work as a chemist and guess what? Results are results, political persuasion plays zero part in test methods and outcomes. Also, I love your assumption because someone has a science background it automatically makes them liberal. Are you saying because someone is educated it automatically makes them liberal? If so, what does that say about you and Republicans in general? You admit you're basing some of your argument on conspiracy theories. No wonder you hate science. Idiocracy is not supposed to be a documentary. Please do your part to stop it from happening and get a vasectomy. Careful with them doctors though if you do get one. Those guys have done a lot of book-learnin' and research. God knows how against that you are.

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  14. 4:30 For conspiracy theorists like yourself, it's probably easy for you to believe that a chemist may choose their research and prioritize based on their political persuasions. Should I spend 90% of my time trying to find flaws, questions, concerns with GMO's or should I spend 90% of my time looking at drought resistant strains of wheat? No one is arguing the scientific method. They are arguing about priorities.

    Contrary to Washington DC belief, there are competent scientists in Kansas City that will replace those USDA staff that do not come here. Major research universities surround the area. Those universities and their students represent a diversity of thought. Unlike DC, a significant portion of them may have voted for Trump *GASP*.

    Keep up the good work peddling your conspiracy theory that Trump wants to destroy science, red states are uneducated, and the USDA deserves some special treatment that precludes it from being relocated. Instead of accepting a change may be needed and USDA is moving to KC, you're trying to use divisive and polarizing conspiracy theories (*see page 1 of liberal playbook) to further your cause - whatever that is.

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