Not All Republicans Deny Science, But All Science Deniers Seem to Be Republicans

How has ignorance and irrationality become a sustainable political position? It seems as though every time I turn on the television or read the news I learn of a new public figure who has gained political clout by boasting of his ignorance of science – and almost always those public figures are members of the Republican Party.

What do Republicans have against thinking things through?

In recent posts I have written about Marco Rubio (the current front runner in Florida’s U.S. Senate race) being a closeted creationist, Rick Santorum’s fight against the teaching of evolution, Utah State Representative Mike Noel‘s idiotic work opposing climate change policy, and a host of other proud science deniers – all Republicans!

Can you imagine living in a place where people lacking knowledge opted to learn about the world in lieu of running for political office? If you are able to imagine such a utopia, it’s probably safe to wager that it doesn’t look anything like the State’s of Tennessee or Illinois – the leading candidates for governor in both states are creationists. More specifically, they’re Republican creationists (I know – shocking!).

In Tennessee, gubernatorial poll-leader Ron Ramsey – the State’s current Lieutenant Governor – wants to include Intelligent Design as part of the science curriculum along with evolution. “To choose one or the other would ignore the beliefs of large numbers of Tennesseans,” Ramsey said. “Our young people are smart enough to come to their own conclusions if both sides are presented fairly.” That’s right; his position on education is that the personal beliefs held by the majority override and supersede science.

The leading Republican candidate for governor in Illinois, State Senator Bill Brady, is towing a similar party-line; but, in addition to teaching creationism, he also supports inclusion of prayer in public schools…

There’s nothing special about the republicans in Florida, Utah, Illinois, Pennsylvania, or Tennessee; a philosophy of anti-science is ubiquitous to the Republican Party. Now, it may be that not all Republicans deny science; but, the emerging pattern seems to overwhelmingly demonstrate that all science deniers are Republicans.

If not yet convinced of this phenomenon just consider the leading Republican presidential candidates for 2012; Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, and, of course, Sarah Palin – all creationists and all climate change deniers.

I fully realize that when selecting a politician to lead us there are many things to consider – more than just their views on science and science policy – but for goodness sake, how has science denial become a desired attribute for an entire political party?

Sources (Linked News Artcles):

Bill Brady Info

Ron Ramsey Info

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