Science denialism on the left

[Gamma Male]

Republicans are often criticized for being science deniars, and rightly so. But aren't there also a lot of scientifically illiterate views on the left?

The two major ones that come into mind for me are opposition to GMO's and Nuclear power. Both based on irrational fear.

The scientific consensus on the safety of GMO's is as solid as the scientific consensus on climate change, and yet we criticize Republicans for not believing in climate change while ourselves not believing in the safety of GMO's. That is a hypocritical position.


The same thing comes up with nuclear power. Even though it is actually safer than many other forms of energy, irrational fear of nuclear power is mainly a leftist position.


Many countries in Europe have even banned GMO's entirely, based on nothing more than political hysteria.

Does the left need to take a look at itself and clean up our own views before we can criticize the right?

[Miserabilia]

Nuclear paranoia annoys me alllooot!!!
It's out cleanest most effecient source of energy.

If we would seriously start concidering it as a good important energy source, accidents wouldn't hapen in the first place!.

Ugh. People need to start understanding this, it's a much better alternative than oil or gas right now.

[CosmicNoodle]

Thank fuck the UK government understands Nuclear, a lot of our staions are Nuclear, in fact my house is powered by one, I think, not 100% sure.

We have many open, and plans to open more.

Reminds me of this, (The figures used in this commic are accurate, to the best of my knowlege, it's XKCD, I high;ly dobt they'd be wrong)

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/log_scale.png

[JamesSuperBoy]

I think only about 17% or less of electric in the Uk comes from nuclear power and that is a drop from around 25% a few years ago - but there are plans to increase the figures.

As for GM it is no surprise Monsanto exit europe with even the smallest details challenged time and time again. In the Uk it takes around 5 years to even have a small scale crop trial approved.

[TheN3rdyOutcast]

The main reason why people in general are afriad of nuclear power is how destructive the accidents can be *cough cough, Cherynobyl* of course with oil spills and and other forms of pollution, I think we can afford to switch. (Of course, I think solar power would be a good source as well, because while the world has limited amounts of radioactive elements, and fossil fuels, the sun will continue to burn for another ~5 billion years).

It is also important for me to say, I consider myself neither left or right, but somewhere in the center.

[CharlieHorse]

i know people who smoke weed daily because they think it has some effects that it doesn't actually have. They are ignorant of the science of it, and therefore believe crap.

[Karkat]

i know people who smoke weed daily because they think it has some effects that it doesn't actually have. They are ignorant of the science of it, and therefore believe crap.

HA

This. Pot pushers are some of the nuttiest people I've ever met. And I'm pro-legalization.

---

Nuclear power just puts me slightly ill at ease because of what it is, but honestly,

Honestly.

Of all the things out there.

Nuclear accidents are not nearly as probable or terrifying as some other shit out there. Weighing the pros and cons, if it gets us off of fossil fuel...

And the arguments against GMOs are so entirely laughable that I can't even take them seriously.

I guess BuzzFeed or someone went around asking a bunch of anti-GMO protesters or something what the definition of a GMO was and they really didn't know. Hilarity ensued.

I mean, come on, we're not burning people at the stake for witchcraft anymore right? Am I right? At least not in the developed world...
I mean, on the one hand, people aren't taught to research all points of view, but to be sheep. But on the other, come ooooon.

[Capto]

It's arguable that nuclear energy can be referred to as 'safer' than other forms.

I'd say something about relative catastrophism of systemic accidents but it's pretty straightforwards.

Though that being said I'd love to be able to continue Thenergy research.

[phuckphace]

I was actually meaning to start a thread about science and politics. both political camps tend to use science selectively for political reasons, and everyday folks like me don't know what to make of any of it. a major example is the theory of evolution: when it was first introduced, it was used to justify enslavement of black people by alleging that they are a lesser-evolved subspecies. but these days, funnily enough, official scientific views on human equality are now in perfect alignment with the progressive party line that we're all 100% equal (I don't believe either of those angles, fwiw). it does bug me when people unquestionably accept "SCIENCE!" without realizing how political it is, or the political machine that is academia. something that is "scientific fact" today will probably be considered politically incorrect and therefore false 50 years from now, depending on which way the political winds happen to be blowing.

tl;dr - if you've got the money you can buy any result that you want.

[Ben_Frost]

Republicans are often criticized for being science deniars, and rightly so. But aren't there also a lot of scientifically illiterate views on the left?

The two major ones that come into mind for me are opposition to GMO's and Nuclear power. Both based on irrational fear.

The scientific consensus on the safety of GMO's is as solid as the scientific consensus on climate change, and yet we criticize Republicans for not believing in climate change while ourselves not believing in the safety of GMO's. That is a hypocritical position.


The same thing comes up with nuclear power. Even though it is actually safer than many other forms of energy, irrational fear of nuclear power is mainly a leftist position.


Many countries in Europe have even banned GMO's entirely, based on nothing more than political hysteria.

Does the left need to take a look at itself and clean up our own views before we can criticize the right?

Illiterate and ignorant people are everywhere. Many politicians just outright deny scientifical claims to appeal to an audience with the same mindset and earn approval.

And, yes I think both parts should take a look at themselves, and clean up and brush up on their views before criticizing each other.