The Economic Costs of Suppression of Science by the Religious Right

[Dr Ron]

From Light Up The Darkness

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=756

First Read reports on the controversy in Kansas over teaching of evolution versus intelligent design, and we see more signs of friction between the goals of the pro-business aspects of the GOP and the religious right. Apparently some people realize there is more money to be made in promoting science, and its marketable products, than in suppressing science to pander to the religious right:

Lawrence, KS-based investor and "self-employed businessman" John Burch will convene a meeting in his hometown tomorrow to lay out a case that this revived debate over the teaching of intelligent design versus evolutionary biology not only sends the wrong message to potential investors in Kansas bioscience, but that phasing out the teaching of evolution will deprive Kansas students of the education they need to go work in that industry.

"It's not a religious issue, it's an economic issue," Burch tells First Read, noting that the initiative includes 40,000 new jobs. He wants to see if "this age-old debate," as he calls it, "can be reframed as an economic workforce issue." Burch seems to be trying to sidestep the actual evolution-vs.-intelligent design argument by saying that the teaching of creationism "has nothing to do with the needs of Kansas science students if they're going to be part of the workforce in the bioscience economy."

Burch's meeting tomorrow will feature speakers who favor the teaching of evolution, including the head of the Kansas science standards curriculum revision committee and a rep for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, whereas the board of education hearings in Topeka in early May will feature experts who favor the teaching of intelligent design. Supporters of evolution are boycotting those hearings.

[Larkspur]

1. Somebody invite Bill Gates and GE and those other corporations

that Mitt Romney was meeting with to discus why public education is failing America. Theocracy is another toxin to public education and the welfare of our nation.

[etherealtruth]

2. US students lack in math and science ...

We can not teach students religious dogma in place of science and expect them to be competitive.
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/fyi/teachers.ednews/12/06/student.scores/

We are the only developed nation where the teaching of evolution would even be discussed, much less implemented!

Johnny can't read, write, add ... or understand basic scientific theory.

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. Ye Olde Dollar Bill wins again

But we could always outsource religion to the Bhuddists. They seem like decent people.

[ThumperDumper]

4. Yeah, if I WERE to become religious...

ya never hear of a buddist blowing up or beating up or locking up people who they don't like.

Besides, their statues are less gory. ;)

[Fire Walk With Me]

5. On the other hand, greed is one of the deadly sins

Or as the Bhuddists put it, desire/grasping.

I'm certainly one with changes to make in regard to proper spirituality, but yes, the overall images of the =followers= of religions is interesting.

[Fire Walk With Me]

6. BTW, welcome to DU

Do I get to say that though I've only been here a few days?

You seem familiar, or is it being on the same page.

[ThumperDumper]

7. Thanks

You'd only know me if you hung out on knife/gun related forums. I get sick of all the conservatives there and had to hunt for somewhere else to hang out.

We may just be on the same page.

It's more fun here.

[Toots]

8. This may just be the monkey wrench we have been hoping for.

Religion vs Money...Two of the three main forces in the Republican Party. The third being power which is usually obtained through one of the first two. Now if we can get them pitted against each other on something such as this science vs religion thing it may create a lot of disruption. Science means money...Science means money...Science means money..