Scientific evidence becomes politically fashionable again
Blessed are the geeks, for they shall inherit the Earth
ONE of the stranger beliefs of some politicians is that if they treat nature like a troublesome opponent and ignore it, it might go away and stop bothering them. In the opinion of many scientists George Bush, America’s retiring president, was just such a politician. It would be one thing, for example, to argue that it is too expensive to stop climate change and that adapting to such change is a better course of action. It is quite another, as White House ... Full Story »
Posted by Peter Barnett
While I don't advocate unfettered use of "science" as an excuse for unacceptable viewpoints or policies ("genetic purity," or meticulously noted experiments with, say, torture), I do firmly believe that it is better to ground policy in fact, to discover accurate answers to significant questions, and learn to adjust policies and priorities based on demonstrable evidence. Perhaps a return to respect for science will lead to better science education, and restore the US capacity for technological innovation and responsible decision-making.