Why do Republicans Hate and Bash Science?

[2naSalit]

As I read all these headlines and posts about the RWNJ assembly we now call Congress, it occurs to me why they hate science so much... they would have to provide empirical evidence that their BS (and their claims of improvement, etc.) is actually doable and/or probable if we do things their way. Since it's all BS, they can't be backing the methodology which would back up their claims. If they did have to provide the evidence, we would see who actually pays them to screw us over at every turn - that would be pay they receive above and beyond the inflated salaries, guaranteed income and healthcare for life they already get from we the taxpayers.

Just a thought that arrived with my coffee.

[upaloopa]

1. Today I was listening to Bloomberg radio

I was listening to investors talk about the market. They want their wealth to grow. They must feel that doing something about climate change will hurt their wealth accumulation. So they pay decision makers to deny climate science findings.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. A lot of reasons - some of them having to do with religion.

The religious GOPers think God is either going to fix everything, or that the End Times are coming, so nothing needs to be done about sciencey notions like climate change. They don't want to accept evolution as true because that's not what the Bible says; the earth is only 6,000 years old and God put all those fake fossils in the ground to test their faith. The less religious GOPers don't want to believe climate change is real because they don't want the bad old gummint to tell them they might have to give up their gas-guzzling Hummers and Suburbans and their ATVs and motorboats, and stop watering and dumping chemicals on their vast green golf-course-like lawns in their all-white gated communities.

[pampango]

3. Science/history conflicts with their policy goals - lower taxes, less government, more profit so

rather than adjust their policy goals to reflect science/history they adjust science/history (as much as they can which is enough to fool a lot of conservatives) to fit their policy goals.

[Spazito]

4. Because science proves them wrong....

every single time they open their mouths.

[GoneFishin]

6. +1000 for this.

[Johonny]

10. Their whole system of government, its goals, outcomes, economics, sociology...

is not enforced by science. Rather than give up their beliefs they've pretty much haven't to give up on science. The results are predictably grim on this approach to life.

[Spazito]

11. I agree...

Everything, every policy they promote can be disproven by science whether they are on the economy, sociology, environment, education, etc.

[DetlefK]

5. Because you can't control science.

You cannot bribe it, you cannot cajole it, you cannot force it.
No smooth-talking, no connections, no spin, no rewording, no law-passing will change the outcome.
You cannot control science.
It does its thing and cares not. a. little. bit. about what you want or what your ideology says.

That's why Republicans regard science as not trustworthy.

[GoneFishin]

7. And +1000 for this too.

[hifiguy]

21. And science is a constant process of expansion of knowledge

and self-correction, two things that make the reichwing "mind" explode.

[Rex]

8. Anti-intellectuals have an irrational hatred for anyone with a brain.

And since scientists like to use their brains to solve problems, instead of chicken bones or the stars...many dumbfucks are openly hostile toward science or anything that sounds science-ish.

[LynneSin]

9. Because someone from Coal and/or Oil Industry wrote them a bigass check

Let's face it - these Republican politicans, they aren't a bunch of dummies. They have degrees and some of them are even doctors or have science backgrounds. They are educated. Many of them have the knowledge to know that the science IS REAL.

But you know the easiest way to get an educated person to change their mind and see things differently then what the experts have more than proven? What it takes for someone to plant a few seeds of doubt in hopes that the low IQ followers will buy into the lies.

MONEY and lots of it.

I highly doubt any of these Republicans believe any of the bullshit they are peddling us. But if you write a check for say $500k you could probably get Dr. Rand Paul or Lt Col Tom Cotton (a Harvard Grad) to tell supporters just about anything that would defy logic like 'Water is bad for you' or 'Who says you need to brush your teeth twice a day' or 'Sleep is overrated'. The poliiticians are smart and they know that their followers - not so much. Their followers will buy into just about anything if you feed them the lines enough time. It's like the sheep from 'Animal Farm' - just teach them the message and they will keep repeating it ad nausem.

You just need to write a big enough check and keep the money coming because those re-election campaigns are NOT cheap.

And yes the Democrats do it too but at least I feel there is some lines they will not cross. They will take money from Lobbyests but the better ones will not go against what experts in the field have been telling us for years.

[Archae]

12. It's not just republicans.

There are too many on "our" side who hate science as well, I see that every time in the anti-GMO hysterics threads.

There are lots of anti-vaxxer liberals also.
Robert Kennedy Jr has impeccable credentials in liberal activism, but destroys his reputation in anti-vaxx hysteria.

[Fumesucker]

22. Why is wanting labeling on foods "anti GMO hysteria"?

If GMO foods are so beneficial to the consumer people will be flocking to them and leaving the non GMO on the shelves.

[Archae]

23. Because of the anti-GMO propaganda.

"Monsanto poisons"
"Frankenfood"
"Organic"

Put that label on food, (including any and every tomato or orange?) while calling GMO food "poison," meanwhile non-GMO food is sold at high markups.

Win-win for Big Organic.
(And you damn right they exist.)

[NightWatcher]

13. Science has a liberal bias.

Just like the facts have a liberal bias. For RW'ers to remain in control, they need to use fear, anger, religion, myths...to manipulate their base.

[sailfla]

14. Because thats how there base thinks

anti intellectual..anti brains.
These people are the ones who flunked 7th grade science: if they got that far
They play to the country's lowest common denominator. The people who vote for them.
I remember Bill Clinton said to Jon Stuart once "If you think, you vote democrat"

[Arugula Latte]

15. Welcome to DU, sailfla!

[alarimer]

16. Because reality has a liberal bias.

Science doesn't tell them what they want to hear, but usually the opposite. So it's "La, la, la, I can't hear you" with fingers planted firmly in their ears.

[Telcontar]

17. So, lets talk about vaccines and GMOs

[HereSince1628]

18. It's not really a war on science: They LOVE petroleum chemistry, they LOVE oil-Geology

They LOVE Pharmaceutical chemistry.

THEY HATE THINGS THAT REDUCE PROFITS

Ignorant people don't understand the dangers inherent in the profit making.

Educated people DO

So 'the war' is really a war against resistance to their cowboy capitalist ways being corralled inside regulatory fencing

[2naSalit]

19. Wow!!!

I apologize for not being able to respond to all these posts but I am impressed with the comments here.

Thanks for discussing this.

I will say that I agree that it isn't just republicans who participate in this "knowledge is bad for us" propaganda. It would appear that they only party I haven't seen participating in it are the Independents.

I am greatly saddened by the state of our nation and that the truth reveals the fact that this has been going on most of my lifetime.

I do what I can to instigate change but it doesn't seem to have much positive effect so far.

Thanks for all your comments!!

[hifiguy]

20. Two reasons. It exposes the environmental and other damage caused

by scorched-earth capitalism and it contradicts their imbecilic Iron Age fairy stories with cold hard facts that are proven beyond doubt.

Neither of these is acceptable, ergo science = double-plus ungood.