Science is not a Democracy

After my post yesterday and coming across this post yesterday as well I figured I would point this out, science is not a democracy. Science is based on evidence and in order for an idea to be accepted by other scientists it must be supported by the evidence. Evolution is one of those ideas. At one time it was not largely supported by other scientists but as more and more evidence was combined to support it the idea became a theory. So Glenn Beck may not think that humans are related to monkeys and he is entitled to that opinion but the genetic and fossil evidence suggest otherwise. Likewise Rep. Barton (R-TX) and others like him are allowed to think that global warming is not happening but the evidence would suggest otherwise. Now there is a difference between these two men, however. While Glenn does have a loyal following he does not make policy. Rep. Barton is a member of the House of Representatives and as so his opinions effect all of us here in the U.S. This means that I will say that what Glenn said was wrong and a misunderstanding but allow him his opinion. To Rep. Barton, however, you need to read and understand the actual science and stop letting the money that you get from the oil companies speak louder than the truth. Also while we all may not want to be related to monkeys or even want to live in a world that is warming but that does not make these false also we don't take a vote to decide the truth. Let me end this post the same way the post about Rep. Barton ended.

Congressman Barton, if you read this — and I certainly hope you do — I will point you to your own words in your editorial: "I think Mr. Mann is entitled to make up his own mind, but not his own truth." That is ironic indeed, given that this is precisely what you have been doing for a long, long time. The actual truth is clear: the climate is changing, the globe is warming, and all the denying, all the noise, all the letter writing you can do will not change those simple facts.

You are not fighting a political battle, you are fighting against reality itself. And if you win, we will all lose.