Written by William Robertson
Physicist and Los Alamos National Laboratory veteran.
David Reger is running for re-election to the Los Alamos County Legislature. As a member of the scientific community, I am particularly concerned about the positions Dr. Legault has taken on two important issues: climate change and vaccination.
It’s frustrating that his position appears to be rooted in politics rather than science. A cornerstone of the scientific method is that extraordinary claims must be supported by extraordinary evidence. Anthropogenic climate change may have been novel decades ago, but it is now accepted as the norm.
NASA’s answer to the question “Do scientists agree on climate change?” is simple:
Yes, the majority (97%) of actively publishing climate scientists agree that humans are causing global warming and climate change. (science.nasa, government, October 7, 2024)
Denial of climate change is currently an extraordinary claim and should be considered a fringe belief in the absence of evidence. Specifically, denial of anthropogenic climate change shows contempt for the scientific method and should be rejected.
Additionally, Dr. Legault has expressed disturbingly pessimistic reasons for his position as a climate change denier.
Our county is so small that nothing we do can make a meaningful impact on the world.
carbon budget. Local action on global issues like this is nothing more than arrogant ego-boosting. (loss
Alamos Reporter, August 12, 2024)
The foundation of democracy is that everyone’s voice can have an impact. Whether it’s voting, your First Amendment right to advocate for or oppose policies, or writing a letter to your local newspaper, the only thing most of us can do is Even if it’s a problem, take action locally. It is arrogant for a politician to believe in the power of community and writing that voters are powerless shows his disdain for our voices. It does not bode well for a democracy when citizens believe they are powerless.
Another example of Reagor’s differing beliefs is his position on vaccines.
The way the government operates today is almost like running a fear campaign. They do the same thing with coronavirus, they do the same thing with bank failures, whatever it is. (Los Alamos Council Presentation on Proposed Climate Change Action Plan, March 8, 2024)
With more than 1 million Americans dead from COVID-19 and numerous examples of economic catastrophe caused by bank failures, I want our government to take these issues seriously. I want a government that advocates public support for policies and regulations that help its people. In 2021, Governor Lujan sent a letter to businesses and commercial organizations asking them to follow the state’s lead and require proof of vaccination or testing for employees. In response, Mr. Regor said:
I have to oppose the approval of this letter… the mandatory wearing of masks has been imposed… if
I think the vaccine is effective, so why do I have to wear a mask? (August 10, 2021, Ross
Alamos Council Discussion)
Mitigating the impact of the pandemic through vaccine development and promoting its use is good for all of us. Refusing to be vaccinated against deadly diseases such as polio, smallpox and the coronavirus. Refusing to wear a mask during an airborne pandemic. Or even weakening regulations meant to prevent a cycle of bank failures is irresponsible and ultimately detrimental to our communities.
Ironically, Dr. Reger claims to be a strong supporter of health care providers, listing “preserving hospital and community health care” as one of the county’s top five priorities. All my nurses were wearing masks this morning. This has been the case since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when we learned that the coronavirus could be transmitted through the air. Dr. Legault appears out of sync with our hospitals and the local health systems he professes to support.
Dr. Reger has demonstrated a consistent track record of prioritizing political opinions over scientific and economic criteria. I want my representatives to seek out and use established facts and well-founded logic in forming policy positions. There is no excuse for denying science just because the facts don’t conveniently fit into his interpretation of what “professional small business” means. I want representatives who understand that government can be a powerful agent of change that enables people and businesses to prosper.
We are fortunate to live in a community known for its large number of well-educated scientific and medical professionals. Our county’s expertise should be utilized to promote the facts on these vitally important issues and refute the fringe theories promoted by David Reger. Rather, Regaard believes that “nothing we do will have a meaningful effect.” We need representatives who value our voices. We need representatives who will use the power of the people to advocate for facts, not radical theories.
In a community that values scientific expertise, Mr. Reagor is not the person we want to represent us on County Council.
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