swans on tea

Just another SFN Blogs site
  • Home
  • A very little about me
  • Sample Page

Scientific Illiteracy

Published by swansont on February 25, 2013 03:00 am under Antiscience, Education, Politics, Science-general

Scientific Illiteracy

There is certainly a problem, but when it reaches the level of elected officials it has gone beyond a problem of literacy. I’d venture to say that Paul Broun being Chairman of the US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology is not so much illiteracy as bordering on the abdication of responsibility on the part of the GOP. That someone like this could be elected is surely a symptom of the illiteracy in the US, but brings with it a whole new level of problems.

When elected officials, the very people we ask to lead our country, are ignorant of how the world works, how can our country be expected to survive much longer?

Also, I can’t help but think that if meteor impacts had been brought up as a point of discussion a few weeks ago, there would have been a backlash of anti-science opposition, attacking the science and scientists involved and accusations of fear-mongoring. (Now, of course, there’s a possibility of an overreaction and advocation of programs that will be nothing but safety theater.) There seems to be a tendency to deny there is any problem until it has reached a crisis level.

4 Comments so far

  1. menageriemanor on February 25th, 2013

    I have to say, as observers of your country’s politics and actions, it’s seeming rejection of science and the protection of your native flora and fauna, even those seriously at risk, those in charge and what they are doing, are distressing and horrifying. My friends in Europe and here, cannot believe that it appears to have become far worse, with a DEMOCRAT government. Look at the state of reintroduced wolves, in such low numbers, being slaughtered as original breeding stock, still wearing tracking collars. Nothing done, a free for all… No point in listing more examples, you are probably aware, yourself. I can’t really say anymore. It is very much noticed by the science educated overseas.

  2. Cap'n Refsmmat on February 25th, 2013

    We also have to remember that scientific ignorance is tactically useful. Need to delay a wind turbines construction project because your constituents don’t like it? Bog down the hearings with questions about how wind turbines slow down the wind and alter the weather. It’s completely bogus, but the scientists waste weeks trying to convince you of your error, and you get time to kill their project.

    So let’s not get sucked into trying to educate everyone who objects on absurd scientific grounds. That may be to their tactical advantage.

  3. swansont on February 25th, 2013

    Cap’n, that’s an excellent point, and why I don’t think of certain elected officials as examples of illiteracy but abdication of responsibility. They are making an argument they know to be false in order to further their agenda, which is galling when they try and seize the moral high ground.

    I say call them out for being dishonest, if they cannot claim ignorance.

  4. Ringer on February 26th, 2013

    Although I agree with what the author was saying, I hate the ‘post-literate society’ crap. I know that’s not what the post was about, but every time I see that I want to stop reading.

Posting your comment.

  • Recent Posts

    • When Does the Decade End?
    • This is the Hardest Job a Manager Has …
    • 5 Things You Should Know About Light
    • See Spot "Run"
    • The System Works
  • Recent Comments

    • Joey Cook on One Ringy-Dingy, Two Ringy-Dingy
    • Science Fanatic on Talk Like a Physicist Day
    • Chris Gould on Brian Cox is Full of **it
    • LaurieAG on Inmates Running the Asylum
    • Uncle Al on Curious About Curies
  • Archives

    • December 2019
    • February 2015
    • January 2015
    • December 2014
    • November 2014
    • October 2014
    • September 2014
    • August 2014
    • July 2014
    • June 2014
    • May 2014
    • April 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2013
    • April 2013
    • March 2013
    • February 2013
    • January 2013
    • December 2012
    • November 2012
    • October 2012
    • September 2012
    • August 2012
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • March 2012
    • February 2012
    • January 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • August 2011
    • July 2011
    • June 2011
    • May 2011
    • April 2011
    • March 2011
    • February 2011
    • January 2011
    • December 2010
    • November 2010
    • October 2010
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • June 2010
    • May 2010
    • April 2010
    • March 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • August 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
    • December 2008
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • September 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • May 2008
    • April 2008
    • March 2008
    • February 2008
    • January 2008
  • Categories

    • admin
    • Antiscience
    • Art
    • Blog Compendia
    • Blogging
    • Body
    • Books
    • Bureaucracy
    • Business
    • Cartoon
    • Conference stories
    • Cool stuff
    • DIY science
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Experiments
    • Food
    • Game
    • Geocaching
    • History
    • Humor
    • Illusions
    • Journalism
    • Lab Stories
    • Language
    • Links
    • Math
    • Metaphysics
    • Misc
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Navy
    • Not Really Science at All
    • Other science
    • peeve
    • photography
    • Photos
    • Physics
    • Politics
    • Quotes
    • Rants
    • Religion
    • Satire
    • Sci-Fi
    • Science-general
    • science-y observation
    • Security
    • Shameless self promotion
    • Sick sick sick
    • Silly
    • Sports
    • Tech
    • The Lab
    • Thermal IR
    • Time
    • TMI
    • Toys
    • trivia
    • TV
    • TYAGFITI
    • Typography
    • Uncategorized
    • Video
    • Weird
    • World Events
    • Writing
  • Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

Copyright © 2022 swans on tea
WordPress Theme based on Light Theme