Some think science ought to have the final word. Others think political leaders ought to have the final word. Some think Dr. Fauci and the CDC know what’s best. Others think government officials and economists know what’s best. Some want to move through the present pandemic based on scientific data and evidence. Others discount the data and evidence and want to open up the economy again. Some think science, like religion, is somehow uniquely distinct from politics. The truth is that there has always been a strange interplay between society, politics, religion and science.
The Vatican imprisoned Galileo when he made his scientific discovery that the Earth revolves around the sun. He was given two choices: recant his scientific claim, or be burned at the stake. The Soviet Union supported the science of Lysenko (a pseudoscientist who rejected basic principles of biology) because his theories supported the principles of Marxism. The term Lysenkoism is now used to describe the manipulation of the scientific process to achieve ideological goals. President Bush placed a ban on government funding for research on embryonic stem cells. His explanation: “My position on these issues is shaped by deeply held beliefs.” His personal beliefs may have halted the potential development for cures of numerous diseases. President Trump has continuously disparaged scientific evidence concerning clean air and water, climate change and medical research. He has also minimized the Coronavirus pandemic and continues to do so.
Rand Paul in a Senate hearing on Tuesday told Dr. Fauci that he didn’t think he was the “end all” in the present Covid-19 discussions. Tucker Carlson of Fox News warned his viewers about “deifying” Dr. Fauci, saying, “He is not the one person that should be in charge.” Dr. Fauci responded to Rand Paul’s comment. “I have never made myself out to be the ‘end-all…I’m a scientist, a physician and a public health official. I give advice, according to the best scientific evidence.”
Lysenkoism is having a comeback. Just as the Justice Department is manipulating the law for political aims, so science is being politicized for ideological ends. I’m grateful for Dr. Fauci and the way in which he handled the political football tossed at him on Tuesday. We desperately need his “advice, according to the best scientific evidence” and most of us know that he is not the “end-all.” Hopefully, he and other public health officials, unlike Galileo, will not recant from the data and evidence so far gathered on this virus, even if they and science are being threatened with being burned at the stake.
 |
“If we skip over the checkpoints in the guidelines to ‘Open America Again,’
then we risk the danger of multiple outbreaks throughout the country.
This will not only result in needless suffering and death,
but would actually set us back on our quest to return to normal.”
(Dr. Anthony Fauci)
|
Slipping in the phrase; "Just as the Justice Department is manipulating the law for political aims" opens the doors of suspicious bias, sad to say. Aside from that you're right in that the differing of science and politics in our society with and without religion complicates opinions toward actions to preserve lives while preventing economic collapse.Our entire society will collapse and more will die without working than will die sequestered at home to prevent contact because we cannot stand that long high level of not actively interacting. I will accept my death living an active life cautiously vs hideing from the outside world in the face of scientific fears that are not ABSOLUTELY predictable.
ReplyDelete