How Anti-Intellectualism Is Destroying America

mostdefiled

I'm a biochemist by training, and a volunteer lobbiest, so I understand a lot about science, and while I can't say that I really understand politics, I've at least sat there and watched bills get debated on the NY floor. And let me tell you- these guys are stupid! Not really, but they were debating a bill that had to do with making insurance companies finance certian medical procedures, and it was painfully clear that they didn't know what they were talking about. Now, that's fine, in my book. You can't elect someone who knows everything about everything, that's just not possible. But you hope that you can elect someone who understands the difference between scientific evidence and anecdote, between double-blind study and speculation. And we don't do a very good job at that. And when people whip religion into things, well... it's like saying "I'm forbidden to look at it that way". It's scarry. But, at least when it comes to social services (I lobby for child welfare/child abuse prevention/mental health issues) we waste our time and resources chaseing our tails on things that sound like they should work, and ignore things that we know actually do work. And it trickles down to the lowest levels of government, to direct service providers, and to regular-old citizens.

Thanks for the chance to vent!
Mostdefiled
quote coming soon

know1

sweetpotato wrote:

you know, GRAVITY is still considered a "theory", too. do you doubt its validity as well?

I don't doubt its current validity, but I also don't doubt that it's possible for it to be proven wrong tomorrow.

sweetpotato

know1 wrote:

I don't doubt its current validity, but I also don't doubt that it's possible for it to be proven wrong tomorrow.

so can i drop you on your head tomorrow? please??