The San Diego Union Tribune article "Cause and Defect" describes the latest conflation of theoretical physics and parapsychology. Who'd have thought when Heisenberg and Einstein were discovering those inexplicable connections between diverging spinning protons that it would provide ammunition in a political battle many decades away.
One of my favorite bumper stickers is "never underestimate the power of large groups of stupid people." But what if these people based their arguments on concepts of theoretical physics so complex that they can only be discussed cryptically by a tiny group of initiates. And that this little group is not defined by indoctrination into a cult, but by attainment of the highest levels of achievement in the most rigorous area of academic research. I quote a description of the phenomenon from the
Union Tribune article:
These abilities may be a consequence of nonlocality, a well-established quantum concept that says entities far-flung in distance or time are still entangled and interact via a faster-than-light, quantum mechanical connection. Einstein called this phenomenon "spooky action at a distance." He couldn't explain it, didn't like it and regarded it as quantum trickery.
In recent decades, nonlocality has been repeatedly observed, tested and measured in experiments. In one seminal experiment in 1982, physicist Alan Aspect at the University of Paris noted that by changing the polarity of one speeding photon (a particle of light) he could induce another photon from the same source speeding in the opposite direction to change its polarity. The interaction happened faster than light, with sufficient distance between the photons that they shouldn't have "known" what was happening to the other. And yet, inexplicably, there was some sort of link.
O.K. interesting, but how does this qualify for a web site dedicated to resisting the Republican political agenda? Let me go on. In the 1980s there were Para-psychology departments funded by congress, ever responsive to voter sentiment, in respected universities. When they reported para-normal effects, they were generally dismissed. Para-psychology has always been viewed as bogus because the field had no grounding in observable repeatable scientific principles. Simply showing anomalous effects that could not be consistently replicated bought no scientific credibility.
What this new merger of quantum mechanics and para-psychology brings is acceptance of paradox. If particles can be instantaniously affected by something happening light years away, then why not the alertness of a Marine walking along a street in Faluja who dodges a bullet in response to my wishes.
There is one specific type of para-psychological phenomenon that has long held protected status in this country. It is when the mind-over-matter being promoted is not from a stage, or a laboratory, but rather from a pulpit. The essential element of this type of para-psychological force being exhorted is that it be done through an intermediary, specifically one of the accepted Judio-Christian deities informally sanctioned by our country. I am talking about prayer.
When the pulpit being used happens to be the podium in the White House, the exhortation to prayer takes on a special meaning. It is an affirmation that consequences do not necessary flow from prior actions, but are affected by the will of individuals mediated by a supernatural force. Now we have a type of meta belief, never articulated (outside of this essay?) that brings together those who follow Christ and those who revere Einstein.
I happened to catch the meaning of the coded phrase, "Wonderworking power," in one George W. Bush's early State of the Union addresses. It refers to the Christian hymn that affirms this power residing in the love of Jesus. So, when he says to his flock, the people of this country, to pray for the safety of our "Brave men and women in Iraq" he is also asking us to pray for success of this military venture, with the expectation that this will have a real effect on the outcome of this war. Would I be overstating my argument if I said that refusal to pray as requested is a form of disloyalty, or worse.
This has become one of the major subtexts, and not so sub, of the Republican attack machine, "Democrats want America to lose in Iraq for their political advantage." Let's deconstruct this concept, this "meme" and see its power and unstated assumptions. This accusation, often leaving the Democratic interlocutor on talk shows nonplussed, is predicated on the belief that the very wishes of a group of people will have palpable effects.
I am not discussing congressional proposals to end the occupation, or to put more pressure on military suppliers to be cost effective. I am not talking about the claim that discussing ending our occupation encourages insurgents. I am talking only about the claim about the consequences of Democrat's wishes, as wishes. The Republican argument is most effective when it stops short of defining how this nefarious wish of Democrats is implemented, simply leaving hanging the unstated power, the "wonderworking power" of their disloyal desires.
How do Democrats defend against this attack, this self replicating, powerful meme? I'm not sure. If you point out how this is based on the belief in efficacy of wishes, you get close to denying the value of prayer, which is something affirmed by most Americans. This reinforces the characterization of liberals as anti-religious. Or do you buy into the underlying myth, and say, "No, No, I pray every night for our troops to succeed and be well." and then get indignant that the Republican doubts your reverence and patriotism.
You might also just simply say that even though many Democrats opposed the war, once we are in it we would be not only narrow minded, but insane, to wish for anything short of the best possible outcome. And then find just the right metaphor for the occasion and the audience. How's this. Even though you told your teenager not to drive when drunk or go down an icy road, if he does. crashes and is on life support, you hope with all your heart that he survives and makes a full recovery.
With this resurgence in this new twist on metaphysical "airheadism" bolstered by a distortion on a body of science so arcane that we must rely on the high priests of theoretical physics to interpret, rationality has taken a new hit. It is only a matter of time before this will join Intelligent Design in the assault on a political culture and educational establishment that extends the values of enlightenment.
Al Rodbell
Carlsbad, CA