Politics and Science: a Needed Relationship

Our leaders in Washington, both in the White House and in Congress, seem to think that you don't have to have experience or expertise as they make policy and enact laws. The current financial mess in the United States and its effect on the rest of the world is just one example of people who don't seem to know what they're doing being in charge of doing something critical. [I sometimes have the terrifying thought that they maybe they know exactly what they're doing and they want us to have a crisis in order to push through their own agenda.]

For those politicians who deal in areas that are related to science, Dr. Richard A. Muller has a message (and a book).

I had never heard of Muller until I was reading the March 30, 2009 issue of Forbes magazine. A professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Muller is featured in a one-page article in the magazine. (Page 30)

What stands out for me about Muller is his level-headedness, his willingness to see both sides of issues and his concern that public policy be reinforced by objective scientific facts. You only have to read in an area such as evolution versus creationism to see that prominent scientists are often anything but objective. Those in favor of evolution will rule out ahead of time any discussion of God or the influence of a creator in the area of biology and human origins and will refuse to investigate legitimate questions or issues, fearing, perhaps, that the results will compromise their basic beliefs.. On the other side, creationists will be just as diligent in ignoring facts in their efforts to support their beliefs.

There needs to be a middle road and Muller seems to be an example of that middle road. While his areas of interest are terrorism, nuclear power, energy, and global warming (and not human and earth origins), he displays the attitude that is desperately needed in much of the scientific community today.

Take the area of global warming, for example. While Muller acknowledges that global temperatures have increased, he also notes that there is a lot of bad information being put out by the "deniers" on the one hand and the "exaggerators" such as Al Gore and Tom Friedman on the other hand. The problem is that public policy is too often enacted by people who have no grasp of the scientific facts, but are simply acting on the basis of personal opinions and personal agendas. Muller believes that has to change.

To that end, Muller instituted a course at Cal titled "Physics for Future Presidents." In 2008, it was voted the best class at the university, going from 54 students in 2000 to 500 with a 100 person waiting list. In 2008, he published a book with the same title as the course. In an interview with Grist, an environmental news and commentary website, Muller was asked if he thought it was possible for science to remain separate from politics. His answer: It has to remain separate or "science loses its credibility, and politicians lose science."

Let's hope that some people in Washington read Muller's book and take it seriously. We seem to be at a turning point in our nation and someone needs to get us back to clear thinking, rational actions, and a realistic view of what defines "the common good." Muller seems to be a good first step in that direction.

Sources:

Forbes, March 30, 2009, page 30.

www.grist.org/feature/2008/10/06/index.html

You can also access Muller's own website at muller.lbl.gov/