America is falling behind . . . who cares?

[Bishop (takes Pawn)]

I've been reading a lot lately about how this current administration (U.S.) is all for science, as long as science doesn't mess around with the "culture of life," whatever that is. So, the really smart men and women in white coats looking into microscopes in labs can find a cure for cancer all they want, as long as they don't have the gall to step on God's feet while doing it. So, instead of going full steam ahead in the search for a better tomorrow, we have to be bothered with nonsense debate over whether stem-cell use is "ethical," and all sorts of other pseudo-philosophical crap. (And this from the same people who love life so much that they are all for the death penalty.)

I came across a stat that 98% of Japanese people accept evolution. In the good ol' US of A, that percentage is just over 50%. That's embarassing, to be sure. But, I've been wondering: who cares? Ultimately, the only thing that should matter is that science moves forward unimpeded. If a group of idiots in this country want to pass laws that restrict research, it's obvious that the world will be worse off. After all, when you have the resources of a Harvard team, not to mention all the other places in the country like it, it would lead to more answers more quickly.

However, when I hear about how sad it is that the U.S. is falling behind in math and science, I wonder if I should be concerned. After all, if a Japanese team discovers a cure for cancer, or if a team of scientists in Sweden find a way to grow new organs, etc. or if a South African scientist finds a cure for AIDS, will this mean that exclusively people in that part of the world can benefit from the progress? Outside of pride, what does it matter what flag flies outside of the research laboratory if all of humanity should profit from the gain?

I've come to a point where I think this country doesn't deserve to be at the forefront of anything (unless that involves military action). There is a reason that we suck in sciences. It's because, for every intelligent and dedicated student, there is about two Flood-believing, evolution-denying clod without any ability to think critically. If half of the people of this country believe in fairy tales over cold, hard facts stubbornly , then should it be any surprise that we will lose?

Simply put, my question is: outside of national pride, as someone who is concerned about the future of Man (whether that Man is white or black, red or brown, male or female, gay or straight, etc.), does it matter who, figuratively speaking, gets to the moon first?

[drkitten]

Originally posted by Bishop (takes Pawn)

I came across a stat that 98% of Japanese people accept evolution. In the good ol' US of A, that percentage is just over 50%. That's embarassing, to be sure. But, I've been wondering: who cares? Ultimately, the only thing that should matter is that science moves forward unimpeded. If a group of idiots in this country want to pass laws that restrict research, it's obvious that the world will be worse off. After all, when you have the resources of a Harvard team, not to mention all the other places in the country like it, it would lead to more answers more quickly.

[...]

Simply put, my question is: outside of national pride, as someone who is concerned about the future of Man (whether that Man is white or black, red or brown, male or female, gay or straight, etc.), does it matter who, figuratively speaking, gets to the moon first?

Well, I would like to think that the more people you have trying to do something, the sooner it is likely to come about. As you pointed out, Harvard University has a tremendous volume of private resources -- but the USA, as a country, has an even larger volume of public resources that could be used to supplement Harvard. In fact, the way research in the USA has been run since the Cold War, it goes the other way. Harvard's private resources are a drop in the bucket compared to the NSF.

More generally, I don't think that we can even trust the anti-science brigade to confine their activities to simply not help (but not to impede either). For example, by restricting stem cell research in the United States, the Bush administration has actively impeded research in this area. By supporting oil exploration and drilling in previously untouched areas, they're actively impeding research in biodiversity. By extending the coverage of patent/trademark/copyright laws, they're actively impeding research into cryptography and information security. And, yes, other countries might be able to pick up some of the slack, but I rather doubt they'll be able to pick it all up.

[Jon_in_london]

Originally posted by Bishop (takes Pawn)
I wonder if I should be concerned. After all, if a Japanese team discovers a cure for cancer, or if a team of scientists in Sweden find a way to grow new organs, etc. or if a South African scientist finds a cure for AIDS, will this mean that exclusively people in that part of the world can benefit from the progress? Outside of pride, what does it matter what flag flies outside of the research laboratory if all of humanity should profit from the gain?

Simply put, my question is: outside of national pride, as someone who is concerned about the future of Man (whether that Man is white or black, red or brown, male or female, gay or straight, etc.), does it matter who, figuratively speaking, gets to the moon first?

Bishop- Firstly, I hope no-one is disappointed when a foreign scientist makes a "break-through". I dont care that the first Heart Transplant was performed by a South African at least it was done!

In the grander scheme of things, it doesnt matter who "gets to the moon first" what does matter is that we are all trying and hopefully cooperating and that when we find out how to do it we SHARE THE INFORMATION!!

Yes, I am concerned that the US is "falling behind". Not because Im an American Patroit- because Im not American- but because the US has so much to offer. The fact that the US is "falling behind" simply means that the US' scientific output is falling- which is bad news all round.