Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
Agreed to #1 (as you know)
I disagree though with the second point. I don't think there is any place in science for hyperbole, staging, grandizing etc. Science and the Scientific process should present the facts and move one.
Nor is science something the layman or politicians/government should be involved in. Science is and should be conducted by trained scientists.
There certainly is a place for presenting and interpreting the results of science and I've done a fair bit of that myself. I think it is very important to have an educated public and for them to be involved in supporting science. And this is where the rub is, eh? Understanding and supporting but not controlling.
I guess I have a much dimmer view on the public than you Kaz. I see a public that is driven completely by the media and the government - a nation of sheep doing whatever they are told to do by the box in the corner. I think the biggest thing we need in this country are for people to GET INVOLVED that would take us a long way toward recovery.  |
Considering I teach the future public, that might effect my viewpoint!
For the most part, I think we are all pretty much self-serving. My husband drives a hybrid. I would like to say that it is because we are environmental conscientious citizens of the world and have chosen that vehicle because he must commute to work and that seemed the best alternative. The fact is he wanted to be able to drive the HOV lanes here in Virginia.
Self-serving, yes, but the side benefit is that he only has to fill the gas tank once a week therefor conserving energy. It's these kinds of changes that will take time for people to accept (for whatever reason) and will ultimately help the climate. I wholeheartedly agree that we have to start somewhere, but sometimes I feel like the Going Green zealots think things should change overnight. I'm all for doing my part, but I'm not going to move into a hut, start riding a bicycle (the rear image of me riding a bike is enough to cause mass panic
) and give up my Internet.
I will however, use recycled shopping bags, separate my recyclables, lower my thermostat, and make greener choices when I can.
Just to show that my husband isn't a completely hopeless case, he is salivating over the new electric cars that are supposed to be hitting the market. The only problem is that they are incredibly expensive.
