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Re: [Phys-L] NYT on GMOs

Interesting, and quite possibly true. We all are good at justifying what we want to justify -- just look at the response from Houston full of "understanding" and "problems with the way we treat foodstuffs" etc. Or look at the recent kerfuffle here over AGW. If you really look at it, nobody disagreed much with the actual "science" -- arguments were about the political implications of that science and who should we trust (being unable to do the science itself).

Another similar change based on politics rather than science can be seen with the "greens" attitude toward nuclear. Twenty and thirty years ago nuclear was from the Devil for them. Now that wind and solar are pushed in the name of AGW many seem to change their tune. After all, some realize it is better to "despoil" 100 acres than 100 million acres.

My point? We are not completely rational animals on both sides of the political spectrum, and I am not even sure we'd like the results if we were all truly rational. Including on this list (smile).

As I've said. Pot, meet kettle.

On 1/7/2014 8:43 AM, brian whatcott wrote:
I found it interesting that well into the 20th Century, the political party that tended to base policy on scientific findings was the Republican Party - but in the last 30+ years, the better-educated and well-heeled folks of the Republican Party have often set scientific conclusions aside - not because of ignorance, but possibly because they conflict with an enlightened self-interest in that quarter.

Brian Whatcott Altus OK


On 1/6/2014 11:57 PM, Ze'ev Wurman wrote:
In view of the steady drip from Houston about right-wing/religious/Republican (or all of them together) scientifically-ignorant Neanderthals, I found this New York Times piece from today is pretty ironic.

Pot, meet kettle.

Ze'ev

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/us/on-hawaii-a-lonely-quest-for-facts-about-gmos.html

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