Think Tanks

Skeptic Overboard

by Bob Burton — July 9, 2009 - 4:33am

The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), an Australian corporate-funded think tank, has decided to dump its Senior Fellow, Jennifer Marohasy.

Main Source: 
Jennifer Marohasy.com, July 6, 2009

Why Do We Need Health Care Reform? Don't Ask George Will

by Wendell Potter — July 3, 2009 - 6:04pm
  • Topics: Pundits, Health, Think Tanks

    • One of the things I hope to do with my post is to call out misleading statements and statistics, outright lies and illogical assertions by opponents of meaningful health care reform—and to rat out the front groups that insurers and other special interests are funding to kill reform or, failing that, shape it to their benefit.

    I'm starting with a biggie, conservative author and columnist George Will, who suggests in his June 28 column in The Washington Post that, because of the complexity and expense of reforming the American health care system, maybe we would be better off just leaving well enough alone.

    Well enough? For him, maybe. He's got a great gig at the Post and as a TV network pundit, and he has sold lots of books, so he probably doesn't have to worry, as most other Americans do, about being just one layoff away from joining the 50 million other men, women and children in the ranks of the uninsured. And even if the Post gave him a pink slip this afternoon, chances are he has stashed enough away that he can afford to shell out the nearly $13,000 that the average annual premium for decent family coverage costs these days (and that was in 2007).

    Rebranding Abstinence Only

    by Diane Farsetta — June 24, 2009 - 10:11am

    "Well aware that their cause is in trouble and unpopular, purity proponents are revamping their image to appear more mainstream," reports Jessica Valenti.

    Main Source: 
    The Nation, June 17, 2009

    Behind Bate

    by Bob Burton — June 8, 2009 - 5:12am

    In a major article profiling Roger Bate, one of the leading think tank players, Adam Sarvana writes that Bate is "to the environmental movement what Bugs Bunny is to Elmer Fudd, a clever, slippery and often triumphant adversary. But unlike Bugs, who cuts a wide swath, Bate is unknown even to his favorite targets.

    Main Source: 
    Natural Resources News Service, May 28, 2009

    The Heartland Institute's Quest for "Real Science" on Global Warming

    by Bob Burton — June 2, 2009 - 5:51am
  • Topics: Global Warming, U.S. Congress, Think Tanks

    • The Heartland Institute, a Chicago-headquartered think tank that has taken on the role of trying to coordinate the disparate global warming skeptics, has organized yet another conference to be held in Washington this week dis

    The Cato Institute's Love-In with Gas-Guzzlers

    by Bob Burton — May 25, 2009 - 1:13am

    When Barack Obama announced new fuel efficiency standards for passenger vehicles, the Cato Institute, a Washington D.C. think tank, reacted angrily.

    Main Source: 
    USA Today, May 20, 2009

    The Cato Institute's Generous Funding of Patrick Michaels

    by Bob Burton — May 24, 2009 - 10:08pm
  • Topics: Global Warming, Science, Think Tanks

    • Patrick Michaels, a senior fellow with the the Cato Institute, a Washington D.C. think tank, is one of the leading global warming skeptics.

    Corporate Think Tank Dives into Water Policy

    by Diane Farsetta — April 28, 2009 - 9:49am
  • Topics: Front Groups, Global Warming, Corporations, International, Think Tanks

    • In May 2008, the major law firm Hunton & Williams launched the Water Policy Institute (WPI), a think tank-esque, industry-supported consortium formed "to address water supply, quality and use issues," according to its website.

    After the initial flurry of press releases, WPI appeared to languish. Then, ten months after its formation, WPI issued its first white paper. "Water Wars: Conflicts Over Shared Waters" (pdf) focuses on two river basins in the Southeastern United States. The paper urges the states involved -- Georgia, Florida and Alabama -- to put aside litigation and work with federal mediators to reach an agreement on water allocation. It also supports further study of seasonal water use, ecological issues and efficiency measures.

    The white paper's conclusions seem reasonable, even obvious. So much so that it's unclear why Hunton & Williams felt the need to recruit major public relations and corporate powerhouses when forming WPI -- and what they, and the law firm, get out of the effort.

    What is clear is that WPI, Hunton & Williams and their corporate allies have a long history of siding with (or being) polluters and attempting to undermine water quality safeguards. It seems reasonable, therefore, to worry that whatever WPI is up to, it's likely to do more harm than good.

    Center for American Progress Hangs with the Neocons

    by John Stauber — April 2, 2009 - 3:28pm

    Investigative reporter Jeremy Scahill sees the liberal Center for American Progress teaming up with leading neoconservatives and going to bat for Barack Obama's escalation of the war in Afghanistan.

    Main Source: 
    Jeremy Scahill, April 2, 2009
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