Founder Benjamin Franklin, entrepreneur, scientist and politician
is very likely spinning in his grave right about now, as a dangerous
anti-intellectual climate has recently gained a foothold here. Look
no further than the the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space
and Technology: Rep. Paul Broun, science apostate, has one of
its seats. He's an interesting case, a medical doctor who now
abjures the Big Bang Theory, Embryology, Evolution, etc. In
the December 2012 issue of Scientific American, he's quoted as
believing that all his teachers taught from the pit of hell, so as to
keep people from understanding that they need a savior. (He also
opines the Earth is a mere 9,000 years old. Hello, carbon dating,
anyone?)
What is this crazy person doing on that committee? Is there a way
to remove him? Shouldn't his medical license be revoked?
(I plan to look into it.) It's people like Mr. Broun who well may
propel us into another Dark Age, if we let him.
The people are to blame, electing some of the less than qualified
we now have serving in the 50 statehouses and Congress. What we
have here is a republic, requiring a thoughtful, educated populace
to endure. That's what Mr. Franklin meant after signing the U.S.
Constitution, 1787: What kind of government have you given us,
he was asked. "A republic, madam, if you can keep it", he
answered.
Yeah, IF we can keep it. It WILL take better than the likes of the
Paul Brouns in power to retain our technological and economic
preeminent position, that's certain.
P.S.: Plenty of scientists have no problem believing in God while
accepting basic science principles, Mr. Broun. Benjamin Franklin,
respected scientist, believed in God.
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Believe it or not, a libertarian-leaning radio pundit named Neil Boortz spearheaded a campaign against Paul Broun last year; he didn't throw his own hat in the ring, but instead he "volunteered" Charles Darwin as a candidate. Well, Broun still won by a sizable margin, but Mr. Darwin did receive 4,000 write-in votes.
ReplyDeleteBoortz's stated goal was to draw the scientific community's attention to Broun's nuttiness, and campaign for his removal from the House Science Committee.
So there ya go!