Science and America
Monday May 22, 2006
I've started the week off in a funk. Did you know that 20 percent of Americans believe the sun rotates 'round the earth? That 14 percent believe the earth rotates around the sun ... every 24 hours?!? (tip, pdf) And 45 percent believe God created man in current form, within the past 10,000 years (totally dismissive of the fossil record).
And why was I looking at scientific knowledge? Because I had just re-watched the Competitive Enterprise Institute commercials about carbon dioxide. [A detailed critique to come.]
With this level of scientific illiteracy, how can we expect voters to understand issues surrounding stem cell research or any other science-based policy? Or how to critically assess propaganda like that from CMI?
And why was I looking at scientific knowledge? Because I had just re-watched the Competitive Enterprise Institute commercials about carbon dioxide. [A detailed critique to come.]
With this level of scientific illiteracy, how can we expect voters to understand issues surrounding stem cell research or any other science-based policy? Or how to critically assess propaganda like that from CMI?