You know how most political debates are about nothing? Well here is one that is about something. Well... it's trying to be. Science Debate 2008.
"Given the many urgent scientific and technological challenges facing America and the rest of the world, the increasing need for accurate scientific information in political decision making, and the vital role scientific innovation plays in spurring economic growth and competitiveness, we call for a public debate in which the U.S. presidential candidates share their views on the issues of The Environment, Health and Medicine, and Science and Technology Policy."
I am quite a fan and support this endeavor, but in the end it will not actually do any good. Politicians answer the question they wish they were asked and not the question they were actually asked. A debate that would actually work would be if the public could engage the politicians uncensored! I know, I ask for way too much.Some are not convinced that this is the best idea Debating the Science Debate
Others let the people decide while talking about both sides A Presidential Debate on Science?
1 comments:
I got an e-mail...
Dear Alan,
On Friday Business Week ran this story on us.
Over the last several days heavy hitters like Intel Chairman Craig Barrett and former HHS Secretary Donna Shalala have signed on, as have numerous universities, including Stanford, Georgia Tech, Cornell, and several others.
Yesterday, Earth & Sky Radio began running this interview with one of our organizers around the nation.
But the big news is we have invited the candidates. And we've issued a press release. The debate is set for April 18 at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. That's four days before the Pennsylvania Primary. The New York Times, MSNBC, and others have picked up the story.
In fact, just about the only people we haven't heard from are the campaigns. If you have contacts at the Clinton, Huckabee, McCain or Obama campaigns, please urge them to accept.
Please tell them this is a mainstream concern about the big policy challenges the next president and our nation are facing. We are doing this for the good of our nation, and we hope those who would lead it take the future of the American economy and job security seriously enough to come to Philadelphia. We hope they take having a discussion with American voters about climate change seriously enough to come to Philadelphia. We hope they realize that we as American innovators, business leaders, scientists and thought leaders, and as over 100 leading American universities and organizations, that we care about our nation's investments in science and math education, that we care about our broken healthcare system and our declining investments in basic research, that we care about scientific integrity, about clean energy, about the future of the oceans and about the biodiversity that secures life on our planet, that these are not arcane, quirky science questions, they are questions about Amerian jobs, about the health of our families and businesses, about our children and the future of the planet, and we hope that those who would lead us them seriously enough to come to Philadelphia.
Thanks for being a part of this historic and important initiative.
Finally, please consider making an online donation here to support our efforts.
The team at ScienceDebate2008.com
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