[shakespear1]

Technology drives the US economy and it appears that only about 28 % understand anything related to science.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'This level of science illiteracy may explain why over 40 percent of Americans do not believe in evolution and about 20 percent, when asked if the earth orbits the sun or vice versa, say it’s the sun that does the orbiting--placing these people in the same camp as the Inquisition that punished Galileo almost 400 years ago. It also explains the extraordinary disconnect between scientists and much of the public over issues the scientists think were settled long ago--never mind newer discoveries and research on topics such as the use of chimeras to study cancer, or pills that may extend life span by 30 or 40 percent.')

Article

[gg3]

Someone's numbers are off.

If USA population is about 300 million, then 40% of that is 120 million. If 216 million is 40% of total, then total is 540 million. And this fails to take into account the number of Americans who are children of an age that should not be expected to have much of an understanding of science (as a methodology), for example up to about age 10 or 11.

As for those who believe the sun orbits the earth, I'm willing to believe that most of them did not understand the question or were deliberately trying to screw around with the poll.

However the depressing fact remains that many, perhaps a sizeable plurality, are not only scientifically illiterate but are pridefully ignorant or just plain wrong and seeking to impose their prideful ignorance or wrong ideas on others via the power of state or society.

If this had been the case back when the USSR launched Sputnik, we would all be singing the Internationale by now.

[halcyon]

Read the article next time.

Scientific literacy at 28% of US population. 72% out of 300 is 216 mil.

When I look at what people eat, how they drive, how they consume & vote, I think the evidence is overwhelming that the statistics are correct

[bshirt]

Not to mention Darwin's evolution theory is just that, a theory.

For these pollsters to claim ignorance of the population for not 100% buying mankind evolved from apes is total bullshit.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bshirt', 'N')ot to mention Darwin's evolution theory is just that, a theory.

For these pollsters to claim ignorance of the population for not 100% buying mankind evolved from apes is total bullshit.

[EnergyUnlimited]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gg3', '
')As for those who believe the sun orbits the earth, I'm willing to believe that most of them did not understand the question or were deliberately trying to screw around with the poll.

[Heineken]

Americans are illiterate not just scientifically but in the true, formal sense of that term. Many read and write at only a grade-school level. Yesterday on the NBC nightly news it was announced that the US graduation rate for high school students has dropped to 17th in the world, one notch above Mexico's. And high school education in the US is for the most part abysmal. In fact, we are graduating from high school herds of people who can't spell "abysmal" or define it; who've never even heard of the word.

Third World, not here we come, but here we are.

We're tops in weaponry and mayhem-making, though. How wonderful. What a marvelous expression of priorities.

[bshirt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'A')mericans are illiterate not just scientifically but in the true, formal sense of that term. Many read and write at only a grade-school level. Yesterday on the NBC nightly news it was announced that the US graduation rate for high school students has dropped to 17th in the world, one notch above Mexico's. And high school education in the US is for the most part abysmal. In fact, we are graduating from high school herds of people who can't spell "abysmal" or define it; who've never even heard of the word.

Third World, not here we come, but here we are.

We're tops in weaponry and mayhem-making, though. How wonderful. What a marvelous expression of priorities.

[Heineken]

The US is in rapid, terminal decline, and all things show it.

[Heineken]

BTW, some (including, I think, the brilliant Noam Chomsky) have argued persuasively that the US overlords WANT an ignorant population, and that our "education" system is designed to produce exactly that.

Ignorant people are a lot easier to push around.

[bshirt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', 'B')TW, some (including, I think, the brilliant Noam Chomsky) have argued persuasively that the US overlords WANT an ignorant population, and that our "education" system is designed to produce exactly that.

Ignorant people are a lot easier to push around.

[jeezlouise]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bshirt', 'N')ot to mention Darwin's evolution theory is just that, a theory.

[Bas]

28% isn't bad. What is bad is that (religious) politicians are trying to put political spin on things like evolution; brainwashing the other 72%. And 72% being the majority in a democracy it's all of a sudden not so surprising anymore that someone like W holds the White House.

[TorrKing]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jeezlouise', '
')FOR THE LAST TIME: Homo Sapiens did not evolve from apes. As it concerns us, the theory says that humans and other primates have a common ancestor way back before recorded history. Their paths diverged from there.

[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('bshit', 'N')ot to mention Darwin's evolution theory is just that, a theory.

[bshirt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jeezlouise', 'R')ight, just like gravity. But I choose to believe that a big invisible space-man with a grey beard is holding me fast to the earth with his pinky finger.

[killJOY]

hey bshit, did you notice the word
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')b]"SEEMS"

[killJOY]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')the survival of the fittest"

[jeezlouise]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Torjus', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jeezlouise', '
')FOR THE LAST TIME: Homo Sapiens did not evolve from apes. As it concerns us, the theory says that humans and other primates have a common ancestor way back before recorded history. Their paths diverged from there.

[bshirt]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('killJOY', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')the survival of the fittest"