Science and the lunatic fringe

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[atthisaddress]

As the pace of social change quickens to keep up with scientific progress and overall knowledge, those that fear change are capturing much of the media spotlight.
A good example of a lunatic fringe post is found within these very threads:

This serves as a good example on why this entire twisted concept has more to due with politics and the redistribution of wealth to corrupt regimes around the world than any true science. There was no true peer-review, and those who requested data-sets and computer models were stone-walled every step of the way...

The fact that every dispassionate observer of the "climategate" events has concluded that no withholding of data occurred makes no difference to the lunatic fringe.

What drives this fringe? Fear. The Republican National Committee has seized upon this fear of change in their latest campaign strategy:

Tucked into the 72-page Power Point presentation to GOP fundraisers in Boca Raton, Fla., last month, was a direct call to use fear and reactionary sentiments toward Democrats as a fundraising strategy.

"What can you sell when you do not have the White House, the House or the Senate...?" one slide asks.

"Save the country from tending toward Socialism!" it replies.

Political groups and parties often use highly charged language to motivate their base of voters and contributors. But the RNC document is unusual in revealing a strategy in such candid detail.

Take your pick:

http://news.google.com/news/search?pz=1&cf=all&ned=us&hl=en&q=republican+fear+campaign

Climate change deniers have linked up with cult creationists and are trying to link up opposition to biological science and astrophysics:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/science/earth/04climate.html

Meanwhile, the evidence and danger of global climate change keeps accumulating, while science works it way through the data and tries to determine the implications:

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/05/the-heat-over-bubbling-arctic-methane/

[atthisaddress]

On a related note, here's an excerpt from a recent op-ed by conservative Republican (and Shrub speechwriter) Michael Gerson.

But the birthers and Birchers, militias and nativists, racists and conspiracy theorists do exist. Some, having waited decades in deserved obscurity, hope to ride a populist movement like remoras. But there are others, new to political engagement, who have found paranoia and anger intoxicating. They watch Glenn Beck rail against the omnipresent threat of Saul Alinsky, read Ayn Rand's elevation of egotism and contempt for the weak, listen to Ron Paul attacking the Federal Reserve cabal, and suddenly their resentments become ordered into a theory. Such theories, in politics, can act like a drug, causing addiction, euphoria and psychedelic departures from reality.

At any time of social disorientation, conspiracy theories have an appeal. They provide a narrative for an apparently random world. They promise that one key can unlock every door.

And these theories contribute to social division. Opponents are not just wrong; they are secretive, ruthless and demonic. They want to overturn the Constitution, establish a police state, cede American sovereignty to a new world order, fight wars for the sake of Israel, carve out a nation of Aztlan in the American Southwest.

The argument of "us against them" is a temptation across the ideological spectrum. But it is intensified by Gnostic insights that pit the children of light against the children of darkness.

Eventually, these theories require repudiation or else they can taint a political movement -- like a little red dye turns a container of water pink. This is precisely what William F. Buckley did in the 1950s and '60s, repudiating Rand and Robert Welch of the John Birch Society, thereby creating a legitimate conservatism that could elect candidates such as Ronald Reagan.

A similar effort will be required today of conservative political and intellectual leaders. It will not be easy. Sometimes it takes courage to stand before a large crowd and proclaim that two plus two equals four.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/18/AR2010021803414.html

[atthisaddress]

From another conservative Republican:

Erick Erickson, founder of the influential blog RedState.com recently banned from his site so-called birthers – those who believe that Obama was not born in the United States and is, therefore, ineligible to be President. And he told POLITICO the conservative movement is undertaking a modern version of the marginalization of the far-right anti-communist John Birch Society during the reorganization of the conservative movement spearheaded in the 1960s and 1970s by the late movement icon William F. Buckley.

Conservative commentators have recently stressed that while each strain of extremism has its own characteristics, the more endemic problem for the right is that overall, the fringe has been blurring with the base, while many Republican politicians and conservative leaders have done little to condemn it - perhaps fearing the label of 'Rhino'.

That's how McCain's primary opponent is trying to paint him - even though McCain represented the Republican party in the last presidential election.

[atthisaddress]

Here's a great column by Leonard Pitts Jr., winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/05/89776/commentary-conservative-finally.html

[Richmedia]

It's not lunacy to expect that so-called scientists should share data to see their results replicated by other scientists. That concept is also known as the scientific method.

It is lunacy, however, to declare that the science is settled, knowing full well that the books (the data) were cooked, and start a world-wide panic.

I have yet to see you defend the obvious criminality that has occurred by Michael Mann, Phil Jones and Al Gore, who has increased his net worth by over 90 million via AWG, BTW.

Call me a loon if you wish, but I'm not ready to sacrifice what is left of our industrial base over a hoax.

PS, Obama could easily settle the "Birthers" complaint, but I don't think that he can. (I have no idea why you included this in this thread, but that's your call I guess) There is plenty of evidence that he became an Indonesian citizen as a child, and no evidence that he reverted his citizenship back to the States. The US has no dual citizenship agreement with Indonesia.

No brag, just facts . . .

[Deurser]

Do "no evidence" include that he was cleared by Secret Service and that both the Republican Governor and the head of the health department of Hawaii have both sworn in affidavit that they have seen his birth certificate and it is valid?

The matter was settled.  The problem is that "birthers" don't like the answer so they continue to rail against it.

[GadgetDon]

Even if what you say is true, Rich - that wasn't something Obama did, it's something his parents did. He was clearly born in Hawaii, and has been living as a citizen of the U.S. accepting the responsibilities of citizenship since achieving the age of majority.

Actually, it really is time we abandon the archaic rule on "natural-born". Yes, there needs to be a reasonable time period for an immigrant to become eligible - but there are a number of people who have adopted this country, dedicated themselves to it for decades, who would be fine Presidents.

[atthisaddress]

The loudest and harshest criticism of the 'birthers' is coming from rational conservatives. Enough said, eh?

As George Will says of the far-right fringe wing of the GOP - the one with an evangelical bent - "They just can't help themselves."

[atthisaddress]

The matter was settled.  The problem is that "birthers" don't like the answer so they continue to rail against it.

In keeping with this thread, I would tie-in opposition to the science of evolution and global climate change (in other words, I would posit that a birther is far, far more likely to also discount these scientific constructs).

There is quite literally no evidence that the far-right fringe would accept that doesn't dovetail with their political beliefs.

[atthisaddress]

It's not lunacy to expect that so-called scientists should share data to see their results replicated by other scientists. That concept is also known as the scientific method.

No data was withheld by anyone. Why do you persist with this nonsense?

Take a gander at this website - it will answer all your questions!!

http://www.skepticalscience.com/Every-skeptic-argument-ever-used.html

[Richmedia]

Even if what you say is true, Rich - that wasn't something Obama did, it's something his parents did. He was clearly born in Hawaii, and has been living as a citizen of the U.S. accepting the responsibilities of citizenship since achieving the age of majority.

Actually, it really is time we abandon the archaic rule on "natural-born". Yes, there needs to be a reasonable time period for an immigrant to become eligible - but there are a number of people who have adopted this country, dedicated themselves to it for decades, who would be fine Presidents.

Perhaps you're correct, Gd, but the fact is that the Founders put in the Natural Born requirement to insure that the Executive Branch was not corrupted by allegiances to foreign powers. We really need to take steps to ensure that all future candidates for POTUS can prove that they meet the Constitutional requirements before entering a primary. It shouldn't be too difficult a task.

Obama's "proof" was posted on Flickr, and was edited on a Mac using PS CS3. I have the file with the meta-data intact. All later versions were released at lower resolutions, and had the meta-data stripped. So far, I haven't seen any proof that he was clearly born in HI, although I would welcome it if it were actually released.

If he became a citizen of Indonesia, and did not subsequently re-vow his allegiance for US citizenship, he's just as ineligible. This is not even considering that a Kenyan Newspaper proclaimed that he was born in Kenya, and was celebrating his election as POTUS. I have that one archived as well.

[Deurser]

Obama's proof was confirmed by the Republican governor who supported McCain. Regardless of what you believe/accept about the proof that contradicts "birther's" claims, no one has refuted that simple fact. The GOP governor confirmed his birth certificate as has the state's director of health.

Birthers have supposition and ennuindo. They don't have proof. And they cannot disprove the Hawaiian governor's claim. Therefore, the only Constitutional issue now is "Innocent until proven guilty" which ardent dislike does not meet. 

[atthisaddress]

Birthers have supposition and ennuindo.

I would posit they have only delusion.

[Reality]

Oh, I don't know about delusional being anything special. I mean, you are debating where Obama was born with a birther, which is the same as a truther, debating either being an exercise in self delusion.

[atthisaddress]

This thread and my contributions are about how more and more Republicans are trying to put as much space between themselves and what is commonly referred to as the "lunatic fringe" in order to not scare off independent voters.

As for a debate about where Obama was born, that's basically between Deurser and Rich. Obama has demonstated beyond any doubt he was born in Hawaii. 

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