Take a trip - Science vs. the Conservive Mind set

[packman]

Article (and it is a real piece of twisted logic) states that a Republican is elected to represent ALL the people and the 5% who are scientists should be listened to in a patronizing type of way and since they are a fraction of the American population, even politely ignored.

"Conservatives aren’t anti-science or pro-science. But, they are pro-common-sense. And once more scientists adopt a common sense approach to science, they’ll find that they have the support of conservative politicians – the people whose job it is to represent all Americans."

and -

They (conservative Republican leaders) must lead not only by listening to scientists and economists and historians and other experts, but by applying basic common sense. And it’s the common-sense solutions that most Americans want. This may not always go over well with the 5% of Americans who are scientists or engineers, but that’s fine – the role of our leaders is to do what’s right, and not cater to minority special interests.


Common sense is needed in global warming, biblical evolution, energy development, vaccines and all the issues of today. Just need common sense - the hell with science.

http://www.conservativereason.org/are-conservatives-anti-science/

[BillZBubb]

1. "Common Sense" meaning

whatever the 1% want to maximize their wealth and control.

[handmade34]

2. this gem from the article...

Scientists tell us that carbon dioxide is warming the planet. But basic common sense tells many people that plants breathe carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. They claim that the more carbon dioxide we produce, the more plants thrive, and the more oxygen they make for us.

they neglect to ponder the fact that because of humans "Deforestation undermines this important carbon sink function. It is estimated that 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the result of deforestation"

picked this up to read on flight a few days ago...

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/03/science-doubters/achenbach-text

In the U.S., climate change somehow has become a litmus test that identifies you as belonging to one or the other of these two antagonistic tribes. When we argue about it, Kahan says, we’re actually arguing about who we are, what our crowd is. We’re thinking, People like us believe this. People like that do not believe this. For a hierarchical individualist, Kahan says, it’s not irrational to reject established climate science: Accepting it wouldn’t change the world, but it might get him thrown out of his tribe.

“Take a barber in a rural town in South Carolina,” Kahan has written. “Is it a good idea for him to implore his customers to sign a petition urging Congress to take action on climate change? No. If he does, he will find himself out of a job, just as his former congressman, Bob Inglis, did when he himself proposed such action.”

Science appeals to our rational brain, but our beliefs are motivated largely by emotion, and the biggest motivation is remaining tight with our peers. “We’re all in high school. We’ve never left high school,” says Marcia McNutt. “People still have a need to fit in, and that need to fit in is so strong that local values and local opinions are always trumping science. And they will continue to trump science, especially when there is no clear downside to ignoring science.”

[proverbialwisdom]

3. This is Frank Luntz territory.

Last edited Mon Mar 30, 2015, 05:13 PM - Edit history (2)

http://reason.com/archives/2015/03/27/science-and-republican-presidential-cand/

How Would-Be Republican Presidential Candidates Score on Science
Pass, fail, or pander on the issues?
Ronald Bailey | March 27, 2015

Shift the frame of reference for a moment. Consider how SCIENTISTS IN CONSENSUS from Europe (or Japan, Israel China, more) would fare on this "assessment" of scientific literacy since GMO foods are NOT endorsed, and the US CDC Childhood Immunization Schedule is NOT emulated. Look around.

[smirkymonkey]

4. Common sense is remarkably uncommon.

God, these people terrify me. No wonder they are trying so hard to dismantle the educational system in this country. The uneducated sheep agree with their bullshit and help to keep them in power.