AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC IGNORANCE

It’s sad to say that too many Americans are scientifically ignorant. You've read my recent exchange with someone in Hayden Lake, Idaho who professes to have a scientific education but who, nevertheless, became a Bible literalist right down to the imagining that the world is only a few thousand years old. He was kind enough to invite me to his adult Bible class on Genesis at Hayden Lake Bible Church or something like that.

Here’s what’s discouraging about the exchange. I realized immediately that his arguments against evolution are without merit, superficial and easily refutable by anyone with a smattering of scientific sense. Many of his arguments are so general that they can be turned against supposed Bible truths, yet, I do believe an average American with little real knowledge of how science works would be easy prey for such simplistic arguments. When I think of all the naive minds who will be impressed by this man’s claims to a scientific education even though he has not a whit of the scientific method in his presentation and mental processes, I sorrow for American reality. More later about our exchange. . . .


BUSH’S OWNERSHIP SOCIETY. A NICE PHRASE, BUT?

Allan Sloan in the September 13, 2004 Newsweek does a nice analysis of Bush’s plan. He doesn’t see how it’ll work without further impoverishing the economy. But what always gets me about conservative plans for America is how they hammer the poor, leaving us with little means in the way of helping the poor and, in fact, shutting them out of a chance at the American dream. Hard work at minimum wage jobs just won’t allow them to participate in Bush’s world.

Writing on Bush's proposed “retirement savings accounts” and “lifetime savings accounts”, Allan Sloan points out, “They would be great for people who already have plenty to invest, but not helpful for people who don’t already own plenty of capital. It’s all part of a long-term plan to turn the income tax into a wage tax, make inheritances and income from investments tax-free and fill the budget gap with national sales tax [the least fair tax for impoverished working people] or value added tax.”

Until we secure a fair wage with extras for investment for any job in America, we need to make sure the horses of privilege don’t run off without the wagons full of everyone in America who isn’t rich. On the surface, I don’t see how Bush’s plan won’t widen the gap between rich and poor, shrink the numbers in the middle class and enrich the fat cats who are already fat cats. Social upheaval is a long term possibility with his plan.
________________________________________________

"The affair between Margaret Asquith and Margaret Asquith will live as one of the prettiest love stories in all literature." —Dorothy Parker (from a book review she "performed" on a book by Margaret Asquith)