Technological ignorance
The proper functioning of a democracy depends on an informed electorate. Unfortunately, the US seems to have reached a state where neither the electorate nor the elected have the background knowledge to make reasonable judgments about the large scientific and technological issues that face us. Given how important a role technology plays in everyone’s life, it’s hard to understand the aversion that so many people have for learning anything technical. As a former chemistry professor, I have seen this problem first-hand. Now comes a study that is disheartening, to say the least. Science Daily reports:
Are Americans flunking science? A new national survey commissioned by the California Academy of Sciences and conducted by Harris Interactive reveals that the U.S. public is unable to pass even a basic scientific literacy test.
It isn’t just the general public that is ignorant; many elected officials and members of Congress seem to have value systems and knowledge that hasn’t advanced beyond medieval times.
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