Re: [Phys-l] The Perils of American Stupidity

[marx@phy.ilstu.edu]

John, you are correct.  Properly addressing every point being asserted would take so much time, which 
I'm afraid I do not have to give.  I am too busy doing my job as a physics educator and this isn't the 
forum for politics.  As I said earlier, people here are truly interested in education and in advancing 
knowledge, but we must stop the politicization of science first.



On 9 Nov 2010 at 17:47, John Mallinckrodt wrote:

> marx@phy.ilstu.edu wrote:
>
> > I take strong issue with these posts characterizing the American Right as stupid and/or ignorant.  
> > These is often the characterization made by people on the Left.  Since I am a Conservative and a 
> > scientist, it is my experience that these characterizations are largely false.  While it is true that there is 
> > somewhat less support for anti-global warming initiatives on the Right, it is largely because of the 
> > politization of climate science and sloppy science.  The Right is not dominated by the Religious Right 
> > presently, rather it is dominated by the Tea Party ideals, which are primarily based on the Constitution 
> > in its present form, the idea of smaller, more efficient government, a properly-regulated capitalist 
> > economy, and reduced government spending.  The majority of Americans are anti-abortion, but neither 
> > side of the argument is stupid for holding the belief.  The Tea Party is not promoting Creationism, nor 
> > Intelligent Design.  I have also failed to see the anti-intellectualism in the Tea Party that you all have 
> > spoken about.  You are speaking in stereotypes and repeating things you've heard without taking time 
> > to find out what people really think.
>
> I hope it isn't "too political for this list" of me to note the simple fact that there is a boatload of spin, understatement, proof by bold assertion, and general misdirection in that paragraph.
>
> John Mallinckrodt
> Cal Poly Pomona
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