America the stupid
This is one of those things that I already knew, but still galls me to no end whenever I am reminded of it. From the NYT (HT: Hullabaloo):
In surveys conducted in 2005, people in the United States and 32 European countries were asked whether to respond “true,” “false” or “not sure” to this statement: “Human beings, as we know them, developed from earlier species of animals.” The same question was posed to Japanese adults in 2001.The Science link has the following brief statement:
The United States had the second-highest percentage of adults who said the statement was false and the second-lowest percentage who said the statement was true, researchers reported in the current issue of Science.
The acceptance of evolution is lower in the United States than in Japan or Europe, largely because of widespread fundamentalism and the politicization of science in the United States.This is such an embarrassment. During the 50's, when the Russians were ahead in the space race, this country started taking science very seriously. This not only helped us win the space race, it helped us become a dominant economic and military power. Distrust of science is a surefire way for this country to lose its technological edge and make us weaker relative to other nations. I highly doubt that Chinese, Indian, or European textbooks waste their student's time with "Intelligent Design" and other fundamentalist canards. Bush and his allies seem to be doing everything they can to chase the biotechnology revolution overseas.
Comments
I never thought I'd see an American brain drain
why not?
Because if you can't get our Gov't to use their power to steal from people who oppose your ideals- you can easily just go to where a gov't will do this for you.
Please indicate how much you have "privately" contributed that was totally in direct support of 'embryonic stem-cell research'..
Can I guess $0.00?
But, even if it is $100,000,000.00- why do you think the gov't should be allowed to use the threat of force to also make me contribute to supporting your delusions and fantasies?
Yes, governments have the ability to force people to pay taxes. I happen to think this is a good thing. If they didn't, it would be hard to collect any revenue at all.
As to tax revenue supporting "delusions and fantasies", I would put the occupation of Iraq firmly in that category, and I suspect the money involved in that venture dwarfs that spent on all federal health research. I am angry that my tax money is being used in that way, but I don't think that means the government has no right to impose and collect taxes. It means I think we should have more sensible government.
Goodbye to Lady Liberty--
She holds a torch, but I can see
Its glimmer growing more remote--
Receding as proceeds our boat.
Now a memento there on Ellis,
Intrusive vines on freedom´s trellis
Do take a stranglehold, and choke
Liberty withered to a joke.
(´Tis not quite that extreme as yet,
But course is set there, you can bet,
While boldest and the brightest do
Depart our shores--this too is true.)