Celebrating A Rare Victory for Science and Reason
Here’s a popular Facebook “share” on climate science to which I commented, “Always nice to see science score a victory, but it sure is a shame that this is in any way remarkable.” And here’s the discussion that ensued:Friend: Climate Science is….SCIENCE! Why does it have to become a political football, tossed around by a former SNL comic?
I would like to see it discussed and debated by scientists who, we presume, are learning more about the subject every day. Scientists learn. Scientists can teach. But every discussion turns to good guys vs. bad guys. Presidents Obama and Trump, and Senator Cruz have little to contribute other than taking snippets out of context and repeating them. We’ll do the right things only when the public galvanizes politicians to shut up and listen.
Craig: I think it’s easy to see how this turns into “good versus evil.” What do you call someone who deliberately perverts science in order to justify selling his products, knowing that he’s doing so at the expense of the health and safety of the world’s population? “Evil” sounds like a legitimate descriptor to me.
I would also add that urging “politicians to shut up and listen” is precisely what environmentalists are attempting to do.
Craig,
Not all environmentalists share your confrontationist attitude.
Many sincere environmentalist don’t see the issues in simplistic terms like “good and evil”, nor do they wish to be involved in a “grand crusade” with dubious objectives and even more dubious methods.
Many environmentalist feel that encouraging participation, finding common ground and inclusiveness to be more persausive and productive than sanctimonious finger wagging, abusive tirades and divisive fanatical rhetoric.