The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Alex]

GC: No they weren't.


SCA:

Sounds a lot like the treatment of those who thought the earth was round or not the center of the universe.

It also sounds a lot like the treatment of those who, despite massive evidence to the contrary continue to believe that the world is flat and the earth is the center of the universe.

I would hope that a state paleontologist who believes that dinosaur bones are a joke played by god to trick us would be fired (and would find it difficult to get a job). I would hope that a doctor who literally (and always) believes that laughter is the best medicine would find tenure difficult to acquire. A USDA agricultural biologist proposing Lamarckian genetics shouldn't be allowed within a mile of a corn field (see Lysenko, Trofim).

Like it or not, a view that the earth is not warming is way outside the mainstream. And while less so, disputing its anthrogenic nature is still pretty far outside the mainstream and in a very small minority.

Academic freedom is important in a university setting when it comes to direct state employees, the state should have people squarely in the mainstream.

I say that with absolutely no knowledge of the specific case in question.

ETA: It is also worth noting just for future examples that really no educated person has been persecuted for believing the world is round. Considering this was known to be true since ancient times it has never really been questioned except by the uneducated peons in little position to persecute anybody. The only significant debate was in how big a sphere we're on.