I don’t usually post political stuff to this blog, so I may need for you all to indulge me. I’m pretty vocal on my Twitter, Google Plus and Facebook accounts when it comes to politics, especially American politics. The main reason behind my fascination is not just the circus act aspect of the whole thing, but because it’s at least partially true that if America sneezes the rest of the world can catch a cold. American internal policy is not divorced from foreign policy.
So I thought I’d talk about Rick Perry. Rick Perry is the current governor of Texas and is currently running in the republican primaries for the presidential nomination. If Perry wins the nomination from the republican party then he will, most likely, face Barack Obama in the presidential election in November of 2012. What stuck in my craw regarding Rick Perry is his blatant discrediting, and often complete ignoring of scientific evidence, so I felt compelled to write the following.
Now that you’re all caught up on the context, on to my observations on Rick Perry.
The crucial problem with Rick Perry is not his abhorrent policies, his hypocrisy, or his rich donors, although those are problems.
The problem with Rick Perry is that he claims there is great debate over evolution, climate change, abstinence and the death penalty. Now while there may be merits to each of these arguments, no matter how slim, Perry does not argue those merits, and he doesn’t particularly debate his own positions.
The problem with Rick Perry is that he disagrees with evidence that is plainly presented to him.
On abstinence: Rick Perry Has a George Bush Moment
Now he could be arguing that abstinence is 100% effective when applied correctly [Unless you’re the virgin mary] but he’s arguing that it’s the best method of contraception to be taught in schools. He doesn’t argue the evidence, he argues his faith, or his belief or whatever.
Rick Perry – 0, Evidence – 1
For the other points on the death penalty, evolution and global climate change see after the jump.
On the death penalty: Rick Perry’s “Ultimate Justice”
Perry claims that the majority of Americans are in favour of capital punishment, and while the poll I’m looking at from 2009 states that 65% of Americans support capital punishment, it also states that when given the choice between capital punishment or life imprisonment 48% choose imprisonment over 47% choosing to support the death penalty
Also if Rick Perry believes that the death penalty is a deterrent, why are so many people in his state being executed by the state? If it was a deterrent, there would be nobody on death row.
Rick Perry – 0, Evidence – 2
On evolution: RICK PERRY SPOUTS ON EVOLUTION
Perry claims that evolution is a “theory that’s out there” and that it has “gaps”. The theory of evolution does contain some gaps I will admit, however the aim of science is to close those gaps. Stating that a theory has faults is no reason to disregard the theory, it’s a reason to better that theory.
I have not heard Rick Perry offer evidence as to why creationism is a better theory than the theory of evolution. Science is about making a theory more robust, and rejecting less robust theories.
If Perry has a “belief” about evolution then he doesn’t have any evidence. Science is not the domain of beliefs, it’s the domain of facts and evidence.
Rick Perry – 0, Evidence – 3
On climate change: Rick Perry on Global Warming – Presidential Debate 2011
Perry again makes the unfounded claim that the jury is out on climate change. There is debate among scientists as to whether man is responsible for global climate change, but the debate is not whether it’s occurring or not, the debate is about degrees of magnitude, and specific results. The results are in and 97-98% of scientists in the field agree that global warming/climate change is being contributed to by man. [PDF link here]
Perry comes out with the down home country sentiment “Galileo got outvoted for a spell” which is not the issue. Facts are not voted on. Besides Galileo was “outvoted” by the catholic church, a religious organization. The catholic church has a horrible record on acknowledging the evidence. That and when prompted to name a scientist the best that Rick Perry could do was Galileo, whom died 369 years ago.
Rick Perry – 0, Evidence – 4
As a quick disclaimer, this post was intended to show you that Rick Perry does not hold evidence in high esteem. Whether he disagrees with the evidence, doesn’t believe it, or flat out ignores it; he’s wrong.
These are 4 examples of Perry’s key opinions, and I have provided refutations of those points based on the evidence, and Perry’s position falls flat every time.
Never trust a man that does not agree with evidence, or facts.
Comment is free, but I will not allow this post to be hijacked.
Ultimately, the question here (both with regard to Perry and to his followers) isn’t how you refute his points, but how do you argue against Faith? Because it’s not as if he’s debating whether abstinence education is resulting in lower teen pregnancy than instruction in proper birth control, nor is he arguing whether human action can avert further climate change. He’s simply arguing that you shouldn’t fuck before marriage because *God says so* and that we needn’t worry about climate change because *God wouldn’t do that to us*. You can’t combat that with facts. He has no evidence to bring to the table, he’s relying on faith.
So. God gave man “dominion” over the planet in Genesis, and while you can debate the definition of that word all day long if you want to, it means both “responsibility” and “control” to Bible literalists. The best path to a successful argument with someone who wants to use the Bible as a shield is to bring up this point: according to the Bible (Gen 9:2-5), God gave us responsibility for maintaining the earth and our place in it. He created a balance. He trusted us, as a parent hands trust to a child who is reaching adulthood. We have to prove our ability to keep our own house. That’s what God, clearly, wanted. Are we doing it? Are we taking care of what he gave us?
The death penalty is clearly against Jesus’s teachings (John 8:7). The core of the New Testament teachings is humility, and choosing to take the role of God in determining who is beyond redemption is an act of arrogance on par with naming oneself God. No true Christian should feel they can place themself on a level with God’s wisdom.
Abstinence and evolution, however, are pretty much lost causes with the faithful. Arguing against abstinence-only education relies on a pragmatic evaluation of life circumstances which lives on the other side of a gap they’re not willing to even perceive. And evolution…if they’re debating it can’t be true because there are “holes” in the theory, they’re deliberately ignorant of both the scientific method and the state of current research. The best you can do is argue for tolerance until the Rapture.