Friday, February 12, 2010
Sweet Kentucky Home
Kentucky is the latest state to enter the "We're Just as Stupid as Folks in Louisiana" contest. As the National Center for Science Education points out:The text of HB 397, entitled the Kentucky Science Education and Intellectual Freedom Act, is substantially similar to the so-called Louisiana Science Education Act, Louisiana Revised Statutes 17:285.1, which was passed and enacted in 2008, over the protests of the state's scientific and educational communities. A novelty in the Kentucky bill is the phrase "advantages and disadvantages of scientific theories," a variation on the familiar "strengths and weaknesses" and "evidence for and evidence against" rhetoric.
Advantages and disadvantages of scientific theories? Let's see ... one advantage is that scientific theories are much more likely to reflect reality than just about any other human activity. And science is much more likely to be useful ... as in how scientific medicine is much more likely to save your life than a witch doctor or someone "laying hands" on you is.
What are the disadvantages of scientific theories? Well, science requires that you think and that makes some people's head hurt. Oh, wait! That means drug stores and pharmaceutical companies will do more business and provide more jobs, which is a net good to society. Nope, I can't think of any disadvantages of scientific theories.
Hey! Maybe this bill isn't so bad after all!
.
What are the disadvantages of scientific theories? Well, science requires that you think and that makes some people's head hurt. Oh, wait! That means drug stores and pharmaceutical companies will do more business and provide more jobs, which is a net good to society. Nope, I can't think of any disadvantages of scientific theories.
Hey! Maybe this bill isn't so bad after all!
.
