[extropy-chat] Non-scientist appointee to control WHO panelists

[Adrian Tymes]

--- Chris Phoenix <cphoenix at CRNano.org> wrote:
> http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040701/03
> 
>  From the article:
> 
> Under the new policy, the director of the Office of
> Global Health 
> Affairs will determine, in consultation with agency
> officials, which 
> scientists will be allowed to participate in expert
> panels of the World 
> Health Organization (WHO).

I've had a hard time understanding why a US government
official gets to dictate policy for its citizens like
that.  Its employees, yes - employees of the
government could be construed as government
spokespeople, even when they're doing things on their
own.  But citizens who may merely receive funding from
the government for their studies, or who have less
connection?  That's covered under "freedom of
expression", part of the First Amendment, no?