Marco Rubio and 6 other GOP politicians at war with science

It takes a special type of psychological, intellectual and spiritual constitution to be ruled more by sentiment than reason. This might well be the defining characteristic of the Republican party of the last few decades. And it was on full display in the 2012 election cycle. If one GOP member wasn't advancing pseudoscientific beliefs on imaginary vaginal anti-pregnancy mechanisms then another was stating the Judeo-Christian god controlled the four winds of Earth. And so it is with Marco Rubio, who modulated his early crackpot pontifications (Democrats are communists) in something of a move toward the center, especially now that he is uniquely placed to attract Latino voters in 2016.

Make no mistake, there is a war currently underway against science and rationalism within the GOP and at least one-half of this country. Climate change, evolution, human reproduction, the Big Bang theory, renewable energy, and the integrity of scientific search have all come under the critical gaze of fringe-dwelling conservative politicians, many of whom are united in their Christian faith.

One could practically write a book on the various absurdities proffered by GOP politicians, especially those with zip codes residing in the southern United States. Below are six particularly egregious offenders of science who, instead of attempting to maintain objective congressional integrity, are on something of a religious crusade in the halls of Congress.

MARCO RUBIO (D-FL)

By now nearly everyone has heard Rubio's response to the GQ interview question, "How old do you think the Earth is?"

 I'm not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that's a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I'm not a scientist. I don't think I'm qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I'm not sure we'll ever be able to answer that. It's one of the great mysteries.

Rubio attempts a shuck and jive in those first few sentences. He defers to "theologians" (a great scientific crowd, to be sure) and then states that one's understanding of the Earth's age has nothing to do with the US economy. That may be so, but one's geological knowledge is of prime concern in the 21st century, when congressmen and presidents influence the direction of science and technology through congressional committees and the budget. If one refuses to grasp the import of science because of religious belief, and cuts vital scientific funding as a result, that is a big problem.

rest http://www.deathandtaxesmag.com/191273/marco-rubio-and-6-other-gop-politicians-at-war-with-science/