I'm a Science-oriented person. It is one of the serious Activities that sets our Species apart from all others. The pursuit of Objective Knowledge, and repeatable Physics is at the center of any advancement and significant progress, we have made, and we will make as a Society, and as a multi-faceted, complex Species.
Humans have taken over the planet. Like it or not. For better or worse.
We need to embrace our Technology and Scientific Knowledge, and leverage it for the em-betterment of all. Or be satisfied with a return to lesser times, where Pain and Struggle and Travail, were even far more common than they are today. The Income Inequality possibilities reel.
With that in mind, I find it stunningly ironic -- that for the sake of elections, for the sake of garnering poll numbers, some politicians are perfectly willing to return to those "lesser times", rhetorically speaking. Perfectly willing to throw Science under the Political Bus.
Perry's social agenda is sometimes at odds with Texas business
by Kate Alexander, American-Statesman Staff -- Sept. 1, 2011
[...]
Two weeks ago, Perry made his position on evolution clear during a presidential campaign spin through New Hampshire.
He told a young boy that the theory of evolution has some gaps in it so in Texas, "we teach both creationism and evolution in our public schools -- because I figure you're smart enough to figure out which one is right," Perry said.
Politifact Texas ruled Perry's statement was false because creationism was not included in the science standards approved by the State Board of Education in 2009.
Perry has also said he does not think climate change is caused by human activity.
And Perry IS their New Standard Bearer -- "the foolishness of man" and all that ... they believe in relying on a Higher Power, for answers.
Which should make Dems ask, What do we believe in, as "guiding principles"?
The point of having Objective Science, is to be able to state categorically, whether something is True or False, or still unclear, ie. in need of more Research.
Of course, that means you have to have people willing to step up, and make those Statements of Fact-worthiness, as Paul Krugman does here:
Republicans Against Science
by Paul Krugman, NYTimes.com -- August 28, 2011
Mr. Perry, the governor of Texas, recently made headlines by dismissing evolution as “just a theory,” one that has “got some gaps in it” -- an observation that will come as news to the vast majority of biologists. But what really got people's attention was what he said about climate change: “I think there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects. And I think we are seeing almost weekly, or even daily, scientists are coming forward and questioning the original idea that man-made global warming is what is causing the climate to change.”
[...]
The second part of Mr. Perry’s statement is, as it happens, just false: the scientific consensus about man-made global warming -- which includes 97 percent to 98 percent of researchers in the field, according to the National Academy of Sciences -- is getting stronger, not weaker, as the evidence for climate change just keeps mounting.
In fact, if you follow climate science at all you know that the main development over the past few years has been growing concern that projections of future climate are underestimating the likely amount of warming. Warnings that we may face civilization-threatening temperature change by the end of the century, once considered outlandish, are now coming out of mainstream research groups.
Is the GOP the Anti-Science Party?
This is the Question. But WHY?
... that should be the follow-up Question.
Is the GOP the Anti-Science Party?
by Ralph E. Stone, fogcityjournal.com -- August 30, 2011
Perry’s evolution denial probably propelled him into the lead in the Iowa Straw Poll. Only 35 percent of Iowa Republicans believe in evolution to 48 percent who do not.
[...]
Is global warming really a hoax? Not when more than 95 percent of scientists working in the disciplines contributing to studies of our climate, accept that climate change is almost certainly caused by human activities. But you just know that the global warming deniers will focus on the 5 percent, giving them cover to do nothing about this serious problem.
[...]
Again the Iowa Straw Poll gave Perry and Bachmann a leg up on Iowan voters who are global warming skeptics. Only 21 percemt of GOP voters believe in global warming, while 66 percent do not.
[...]
How are we going to keep up with the rest of the world in innovation and scientific discovery when one of our two major political parties -- the GOP -- is in danger of becoming the anti-science party. What is more troublesome is that the GOP’s anti-science stance contributes to an anti-intellectualism and anti-rationalism in our public life, resulting in a dumbing down of Americans. The ignorance of the average U.S. adult of basic scientific facts has been well documented by surveys, finding that only about 28 percent of adult Americans currently qualify as scientifically literate.
They may be Low information voters -- But they ARE voters nonetheless.
Playing Dumb, might win State Elections -- but it does very little, to Advance Humanity.
It does very little to solve Actual Problems. I would contend that Humanity's many Problems -- Demand Scientific Solutions -- NOT empty rhetorical ones. Call me naive.
Real Solutions demand boots on the ground.
Real Science demands Techs at the Keyboards ... and Curious People in the Labs ...
Huntsman's "Anti-Science" Warning Hits Close To Home At Fox News
by Shauna Theel, MediaMatters.org -- August 23, 2011
[...]
Last night Fox News' The Five also discussed Huntsman's remarks. When Bob Beckel said the "primary electorate for the Republicans - they actually believe that there isn't global warming," his co-hosts Dana Perino, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Greg Gutfeld protested, "That's not true!"
http://mediamatters.org/...
A curious reaction from employees of the network that has done more than any other major media outlet to manufacture doubt about human-induced climate change. Recall that in an internal memo Fox News executive Bill Sammon ordered the network's journalists to question even the basic fact that the planet has warmed.
Who's Knew -- Fox Newscasters wanted to Stop "Global Stupidity"?
Kettle -- meet Pot.
Hey FOX Maybe you could start by actually listening to real Scientists ... and not set them up like Strawmen Bowling-Pins in your Faux Debates ...
Global Warming "debate" with Bill Nye the Science Guy and Joe Bastardi
http://youtu.be/...
Humanity's many problems are not trivial -- the Solutions to those Problems, if they are to be had, will NOT be trivial either.
The MORE Science, we as a Species can bring to bear on those Problems, the BETTER.
(In my humble opinion.)
And the sooner Dems, stand up as the Science Party, the BETTER, too.
(or so I have boldly asserted as axiomatic. ie. "as givens", as foundational, basic truths. )
Jon Huntsman {gasp} is showing us the way ...
http://youtu.be/...