What about Al Gore, didn’t he invent the Internet and Global Warming, and then change Global warming into Climate Change and tell us the world is millions of degrees two miles down?  That kind of scientist?

Man, any scientist who can con the world into that crap can get elected anywhere… except America.  Stupid Americans.

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Ray has hit the nail on the head, albeit sarcastically. (At least it looks sarcastic to me.)

Scientists don’t get into politics because they rely on evidence and politics is about manipulating tribal instincts in the face of evidence.

There is clear evidence that Gore did not say he invented the internet. There is clear evidence for climate change (not to mention the absurdity of the conspiracy theory required to align thousands of independent scientists and keep them quiet, any of whom would win a Nobel Prize if they could disprove climate change.)

But evidence is irrelevant to voters. Despite our appearances of being evolved and thoughtful, we are all still prone to “us vs them”, in-group/out-group tribalism. Voters tend to identify with ideologies, and then make up assertions about the other camp, which they all rally around and repeat until they believe it. (Ray giving good examples of climate change and false Gore statements.)

Politics is made worse in that the manipulation of tribal instincts is funded mostly by private interests. To get elected you need to play ball with them.

These problems can be mitigated, however, if campaigns were publicly funded and we replaced the plurality voting system with a score voting system. Then it would be perpetual multi-party, minority governments acting on behalf of voter interests, who actually have to convince each other to agree. That approach at least provides some hope of pushing the need for evidence, but only partly.

But what government has the incentive to make these changes? After all, they got in by the manipulative means they’d be changing. At least until there is a revolution, scientists are probably better off shaming politicians with mountains of evidence until they finally cave to the obviousness. Maybe I’m a little cynical on that, but I don’t yet see a better solution.

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Ray,

If you’re not being sarcastic, then it’s very appropriate that you chose an obsolete media technology, susceptible to extreme distortion from external influences, requiring immense quantities of energy to sustain, and emitting lethal radiation without careful shielding, upon which to base your handle.

Poldano

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Sorry about the typos. I don’t know how to go back to fix.

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I was just thinking about that the other day…But I guess they could never win with too many opponents out there.  I just don’t understand….

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It seems to me the simple answer is that most americans (those living in the us)  are the stupidest people on earth next to hardcore muslims. I don’t include christians because most americans already fit that part.
P.S. I post only when I’m drunk and as the romans used to say “in vino veritas”.

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A politician does not need to be a scientist to think rationally and make good decisions.
She needs not be indoctrinated in some form of religion or the aspect that unregulated capitalism is good and can lead to the best possible culture.
Any elected official that seeks information from a religious leader that consults scripture for a source of truth will inevitably be led down a poor path of progress, ethics, morality, and fairness.
The problem is to be found in most societies, the governing body will reflect the populations culture.
The American culture is one of Christianity and Capitalism. Which, if permitted to continue in the same direction, at most will be the downfall of America, or at least will hold the society back.

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Scientists are too smart to be in a corrupt government.

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They need this equipment forScientists:
http://www.remotecontrolhelicopterwithcamera.net/

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