• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Would you deny science to get elected?

Travis

Misanthrope of the Mountains
Travis
Joined
Mar 31, 2007
Messages
24,133
I wasn't sure if I should put this here or in politics but I kind of want to get the opinion of the science minded crowd.

Backstory: we have local education board elections coming up this November and someone I sorta know is going to try and get on it by unseating a long time member with some right wing views. There are going to be a series of debates around this starting in September and he wants me there to ask him some prepared questions so I got some prep notes and guidelines.

I was surprised he made a note for me to not bring up evolution, any anti-Christian science (like geology or cosmology) or climate change. I asked about this and he was blunt "if they find out I believe in evolution and other science I won't be elected and I don't want to have to lie and say I don't believe it when I do." As such he just doesn't want the thing brought up at all especially since it would likely be non-issue in terms of the actual job as no one has ever seriously tried to attack teaching evolution locally. But if they did it would be nice to have someone like him on the board.

But could you deny science to get a job where you would then possibly be called on to defend science should someone try to attack it?
 
Last edited:
Oh, and the above is a paraphrasing. It was a much longer conversation that mostly centered around the idea that I approve of: getting rid of the damned charter school!
 
You are going to ask the questions at the debates? Or are these practice questions? If the former then you should both agree on the questions and work out the answers. If the later then just about anything goes as you have no idea what questions will be asked.

If he wants to keep his views on science quiet he is not denying science. He is just not making an issue of it. If his opponent find out about this issue then they should ask a science question. If science is an important issue then he should count on being asked a science related question or ten in the campaign.

But I am not totally familiar with USA politics.
 
Just wrap yourself in the FLAG. Any questions that may out you as a rational person can be answered by, "I believe in the Constitution of these Great United States of America and will adhere (maybe too big a word?) to its principles in all my duties (as dog catcher of this great town)".

Repeat as often as possible. In a louder and more fervent voice as required.

(This advice is based on living next to the Sleeping Elephant q.v. for close to 60 years.)

Happy to help.

:th:
 
Shouldn't you be taking some tactics out of the Carl Rove playbook and asking questions like "Do you feel embarrassed running against a candidate who has allegely commited many sins against nature?"

I could go on, but it seems unethical.

Charlie (yeah, ethics are important in US style elections) Monoxide
 
They each have to answer questions from the floor. Normally these questions are stupid things from old grandma types. I'm going to be a plant that asks some questions of him that allow him to go into some prepared statements. Mostly about budget reformation and restoring bus service. The school, placed out in the middle of nowhere where it is only accessible by car or bus, just this year did away with bus service unless the kids pay extra.

So nobody would openly deny science to get elected?
 
I would not deny science, or the truth, to get elected. Which is why I won't get elected. Which is why I won't run. That truth and honesty are unelectable is why I don't care.
 
The only scenario I would deny such an essential thing is if it got me to have sex with Scarlet Johansson. Then, I would consider it.
 
Travis said:
They each have to answer questions from the floor. Normally these questions are stupid things from old grandma types. I'm going to be a plant that asks some questions of him that allow him to go into some prepared statements. Mostly about budget reformation and restoring bus service. The school, placed out in the middle of nowhere where it is only accessible by car or bus, just this year did away with bus service unless the kids pay extra.

So nobody would openly deny science to get elected?
Click to expand...

You are not denying science. Just not making it an issue. I cannot see how this is a problem. If your opponent does not bring it up then he is stupid.
 
Gord_in_Toronto said:
Just wrap yourself in the FLAG. Any questions that may out you as a rational person can be answered by, "I believe in the Constitution of these Great United States of America and will adhere (maybe too big a word?) to its principles in all my duties (as dog catcher of this great town)".

Repeat as often as possible. In a louder and more fervent voice as required.

(This advice is based on living next to the Sleeping Elephant q.v. for close to 60 years.)

Happy to help.

:th:
Click to expand...
Never "adhere" when you can "stick to". It's all them gay perfessers who use them fancy words ast's ruinin' the country. Them an that uppity feller what calls hisself a president. Like he wuz a act'al American citizen.
 
Complexity said:
I suspect that opportunity would interfer with capability, even if one were thus inclined.
Click to expand...

Naah, It's easy. Watch:

"Yes my dear Scarlett. Of course evolution is nonsense. How can we come from apes if we have all those chimps and gorillas in the zoo? Now... take off that robe. Here's your cup of wine"

See? Easy as pie ;)
 
I would deny Science.
I would deny Christ. Three times!
I would say no, no, no to Rehab.
I would doubt truth to be a liar and that the stars doth move.
As long as it gets me the absurdly limited amount of POWER I so desperately crave.

So... can I count on your support?
 
The OP's assumption (I think) is that the science is correct or has any legitimate challenge. Would I deny the theory of evolution to get elected? No, because the theory of evolution has no qualms within the scientific community, it is regarded as one of the most elegant theories simply because the evidence so beautifully supports the theory.

Though would I deny that UFOs have not visited this planet? Of course I would, because scientists have either arrived at a conclusion that UFOs visiting Earth is bogus (hence then UFOs would not belong in the realm of science) or that jury is still out on this one.
 
But you are not trying to get elected by scientists. You are trying to get elected by a mostly Republican community that thinks scientists are evil eggheads that sold their "souls" to Satan. Would you lie then if, once elected, you could keep them from having their Origin of Species book burning day?
 
Three things:
1) No, I wouldn't
2) We should have a poll. Yes, it'll be 99% "No", but, it would be nice.
3) I would love for a politician to say, "I don't think there's a man in the sky who made everything!" Yes, he'd probably lose because of that, but, I think that statement alone would appeal to more than quite a few million people.
 
EMB said:
The OP's assumption (I think) is that the science is correct or has any legitimate challenge. Would I deny the theory of evolution to get elected? No, because the theory of evolution has no qualms within the scientific community, it is regarded as one of the most elegant theories simply because the evidence so beautifully supports the theory.

Though would I deny that UFOs have not visited this planet? Of course I would, because scientists have either arrived at a conclusion that UFOs visiting Earth is bogus (hence then UFOs would not belong in the realm of science) or that jury is still out on this one.
Click to expand...


It seems to me that there is a large movement that has made a religion out of what they call “science”, that is as loaded with woo as any body of nonsensical superstition; and that those who speak of “denying science” are nearly all of that type.
 
It seems to me that there is a large movement that has made a religion out of what we call “fairy tales”, that is as loaded with woo as any body of nonsensical superstition; and those who “deny science” are nearly all of that type.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom