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Cyrano

(15,023 posts)
Tue Jul 6, 2021, 01:54 PM Jul 2021

Will science survive the next Republican regime?

Evidently, climate change, life-saving vaccines, and reality in general are all "fake news" and "hoaxes" to today's "Flat Earth believers" who call themselves Republicans. Seems that the wealthy owners of the GOP will order their bought and paid for politicians to do and say anything to get and hold power, and keep the peasants in line. And if ignoring science is what it takes, then that's what they'll do.

Nothing new here. In the 17th century, the church pretty much controlled the lives of many Europeans and they had themselves an Inquisition to keep it that way. Perhaps their most famous victim was Galileo who almost blew up church dogma by stating that the sun didn't revolve around the Earth. Being a scientist in a "flat Earth" world isn't the safest profession (as Dr. Fauci is learning through all the threats on his life).

Galileo's championing of Copernican heliocentrism (Earth rotating daily and revolving around the sun) was met with opposition from within the Catholic Church and from some astronomers. The matter was investigated by the Roman Inquisition in 1615, which concluded that heliocentrism was foolish, absurd, and heretical since it contradicted Holy Scripture.

Galileo later defended his views in Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632), which appeared to attack Pope Urban VIII and thus alienated both the Pope and the Jesuits, who had both supported Galileo up until this point. He was tried by the Inquisition, found "vehemently suspect of heresy", and forced to recant. He spent the rest of his life under house arrest.*


What's frightening is the possibility that our government could end up in the hands of today's "Inquisitors" which would seem likely to doom our freedoms, our democracy, and eventually, the survival of human life on a ruined planet.

Dinosaurs didn't choose extinction. On the other hand, our species has choices and has never missed an opportunity to make the wrong ones. (I guess those who run the world either don't have grandchildren, or don't give a rat's ass about the survival of any they may have.)

*Excerpt from Wikipedia.
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redstatebluegirl

(12,264 posts)
1. No science is under siege by the idiots following the GOP.
Tue Jul 6, 2021, 01:58 PM
Jul 2021

The uneducated are trying to take over our country and they will no doubt be successful next time between gerrymandering and suppressing the vote.

 

Klaralven

(7,510 posts)
2. Luckily, science is not dependent on the United States
Tue Jul 6, 2021, 02:53 PM
Jul 2021

If scientists become unwelcome here, they will move to where they are welcome, as they did in the 1930s.

Cyrano

(15,023 posts)
4. Many democracies are under fascist siege these days
Tue Jul 6, 2021, 04:12 PM
Jul 2021

Seems that crazy is contagious. Not to mention that a fascist America would be a threat to the entire world.

 

Klaralven

(7,510 posts)
5. Science does not depend on democracy.
Tue Jul 6, 2021, 04:22 PM
Jul 2021

Prior to WW I, the center of scientific development was Germany and Austro-Hungary, both more or less authoritarian regimes.

The right kind of authoritarian regime has often been very good for the advancement of the arts of music, painting, sculpture, etc. as well as science.

Cyrano

(15,023 posts)
6. Well, I'm not sure today's authoritarian regimes would be
Tue Jul 6, 2021, 04:30 PM
Jul 2021

as tolerant of the arts and sciences. When I think authoritarian, I think book burning.

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
7. Science is making the next Reptilian regime less likely in the near future.
Tue Jul 6, 2021, 04:48 PM
Jul 2021

Biden's respect for science, and the boring mechanics of reality, is rolling back Trump's COVID genocidal plan.

Voters will reward Dems for a better life. Most voters, anyhow.

roamer65

(36,739 posts)
8. Repukes steal the next two elections, and there will be a more serious topic being discussed.
Tue Jul 6, 2021, 04:50 PM
Jul 2021

The secession of the blue states.

The end of the American Republic.

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