The author of the cartoon here conflates “capacity for critical thinking” and the “training to conduct scientific research,” even though they are two different things.
When it comes to space exploration, disease control, climate science, etc., all the critical thinking in the world is not going to get you one millimeter closer to the ability to draw your own conclusions. If you’re honest with yourself, you realize that it’s a good idea simply to ask the scientists in whatever domain interests you what they believe and why.
I’m reminded of the perfectly well-meaning suggestions I’ve received throughout the years that I conduct my own research into climate change. Flattering as it is, I’m no better equipped to do this than I am to perform open-heart surgery.
I’m perfectly comfortable knowing that thousands of honest, highly trained people, some of whom I have the pleasure of knowing personally, have made the study of climate change their life’s work, publish peer-reviewed papers on the subject, and make their conclusions available to me (and you).
If you think that makes me “gullible,” I don’t know what to say.
A couple of months ago, I happened to ask a friend who had emigrated from Sweden if she was religious. “No!” she exclaimed. “Almost no one in Sweden is religious.”
As we see at left, there seems to be a huge correlation between atheism and the national level of happiness. But what causes that?
Are believers unhappy people for some reason? That doesn’t make sense.
Here’s my two-fold theory. Atheists believe:
a) That we only live once, so we try to enjoy it while we can.
And, more importantly,
b) That we need to take care of one another (since there is no God). We’re willing to make sacrifices if that means things like great education, universal healthcare, environmental responsibility, tolerable working conditions, and near-zero poverty.
Renewable Energy
From the Independent: “Trump Administration to Pay Two More Companies to Walk Away from U.S. Offshore Wind Leases”
From this article in The Independent:
The Trump administration announced two more payouts Monday for energy companies to walk away from U.S. offshore wind projects under development.
Bluepoint Wind and Golden State Wind have agreed to end their offshore wind leases in exchange for reimbursements totaling nearly $900 million. Both companies have decided not to pursue any new offshore wind projects in the United States, the Interior Department announced Monday.
Bluepoint Wind is an offshore wind project in the early stages of development off the coasts of New Jersey and New York, while Golden State Wind is a floating offshore wind project proposed off California’s central coast.
Trump is hellbent on destroying the renewable energy industry so as to benefit his billionaire friends in fossil fuels.
He’s on course to be remembered as the most destructive person in world history, with the possible exception of Adolph Hitler.
What is said here about Pete Hegseth is clearly true.
But keep in mind that he’s fiercely loyal to Donald Trump, and Trump couldn’t possibly care what happens to the United States, as long as he can stay out of prison and enrich himself and his family.
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