Why the Earth's Age Does, Actually, Matter in Politics

Paul Krugman: Republican Party becoming increasingly 'anti-rational'
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 23, 2012 1:28 PM CST
Why the Earth's Age Does, Actually, Matter in Politics
Sen. Marco Rubio speaks to reporters after leaving a closed-door meeting at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

When Marco Rubio deflected a question about the Earth's age recently, the Florida senator argued that such issues have nothing to do with politics—but he's wrong, writes Paul Krugman in the New York Times. Let's not forget that Rubio himself once "provided powerful aid to creationists trying to water down science education," and has compared evolution in schools to indoctrination tactics used by Communists. With attitudes like those, how is the US going to remain competitive in biotechnology or find natural resources if modern science education is forced to share time with the teaching of creationism?

Rubio's "inability to acknowledge scientific evidence speaks of the anti-rational mind-set that has taken over his political party," Krugman writes, and that attitude can seep into more areas than just science. "So don’t shrug off Mr. Rubio’s awkward moment. His inability to deal with geological evidence was symptomatic of a much broader problem—one that may, in the end, set America on a path of inexorable decline." Click for his full column. (More creationism stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X