Book: Fool Me Twice by Shawn Lawrence Otto

Fighting the Assault on Science in America

I read this book because it is important. It is often fascinating and provocative, usually easy to understand and follow. The author makes a persuasive argument that Americans are discounting the importance of science, and he berates those who refute scientific KNOWLEDGE as just theory or, worse yet, not true. He is passionate about how important it is that the United States is serious about the following:
1. Innovation.
2. Climate Change.
3. Energy.
4. Education.
5. National Security.
6. Pandemics and Biosecurity.
7. Genetics Research
8. Stem Cells.
9. Oceans
10. Health Water.
11. Space.
12. Scientific Integrity.
13. Research.
14. Health.

The author feels postmodernism replaced the acknowledgement of objective truths and scientific facts with a philosophy that held any idea, thought or feeling can be "truth" and that nothing is absolute; all is relative. The author reiterates repeatedly that there IS "objective truth" and we cannot ignore facts without peril.

"Today, serious candidates for Congress and the presidency can openly state views that run counter to all known science and history, and many journalists don't feel it is their role to point out that the emperor has no clothes."

There is the feeling that Obama "administration has really dropped the ball on climate. They should have been out there with a full court educational press, a World War II type mobilization to counter the misinformation and educated the public, and they haven't done it."

Our students are scoring lower and lower in global rankings in science and math. We need science as much--more--than we ever have, but it is not what Americans know or care about. Scientists do not know how to engage the public; politicians obviously do not consider science a priority and, in fact, most most likely have little knowledge of science. Very few members of the current Congress (less than 2%) "have professional backgrounds" in science.

Science is not antithetical to religion. Science deals with facts, knowledge and proofs and science affects all of us every minute of our day. It cannot be ignored or mocked or its truths debated. We need to "get" this as a country.

The author states that: "Given the choice, the majority of people want drama, sex, violence and comedy, the four horsemen of entertainment." He points out how media caters to this, and thus the public receives less and less objective information about anything. If you are at all interested, read Fool Me Twice. Don't be one of the "ideologically malleable electorate" as the author calls us. Keep in mind those 14 areas of concern listed above and think about how important they all are to our future.