Vote Planet, Not Party - 236

Back in November of 2016, after extensive research, I wrote an article imploring people to resist the urge to vote tribally and instead respect the science community and heed its warnings about our deteriorating climate.

Here is the Letter to the Editor I sent to many newspapers titled: “No more Tribal Voting”   

“Today Meteorologist Paul Hutner informed us that Minneapolis will have its longest growing season ever. The arctic temperatures are running 5 to 10 degrees above average. The arctic sea ice is at an all-time low.

Science is not political. Unfortunately, we do not think with a scientific brain. Studies in sociology, psychology, and evolutionary social biology all say the human mind thinks in terms of tribe. We are tribal in origin. We vote tribally.

For a brief period in our history we edged, as a nation, towards science as a more logical means of decision making. That, I believe, peaked somewhere in the 50s or 60s. Today kids rank down around 20th in the world in regards to science, technology, engineering, and math.  Surveys have found adults to be science illiterate. I substitute teach. I ask if they have science magazines at home. None so far.

Scientists have started criticizing political parties. The first I noticed was in the National Geographic Magazine.  The cover title was, “The War on Science”.  More science publications have intensified their criticism of the Republican party.

Personally, as a retired military officer, I am incensed that the Republican legislators have specifically targeted the Pentagon. They have attempted to muzzle the planners studying climate science. The Scientific American identified the cause of the Syrian Civil War as a drought intensified by global warming. This war has spread millions of environmental refugees throughout the world. The Pentagon must study climate to anticipate and attempt to prevent future conflict. Our troops deserve the best planning.

 Recently in the Scientific American the scientific acumen of Mr. Trump was compared to MS Clinton’s. The most points a candidate could receive was 5. Trump received zero, Clinton four. In a separate article the tag-line was, “His statements show a disrespect for science that is alarming in a candidate for high office.” For more information go to ScientificAmerican.com/nov/2016/trump-comments.

Today, 99% of all climate scientists, all national academies, and every prestigious science organization on earth is telling us it is time to act. The first step to heal the earth’s climate has been taken, the Paris Accord. Mr. Trump has said he wants to step back from our leadership role and science based commitment.

Climate wise, ten years from now, all adults will be asked by our kids, “Why didn’t you do something while you still could?”  Vote for them. Vote science.”

Now, five more years down the road, the scientist’s warnings to change our ways and defend the planet have been proven correct. In fact, the rate of climate disasters happening are at a rate and an intensity leaving scientists shocked.

This year, on their third try, Democrats passed climate legislation. More will be needed to build a clean energy future and tame the climate, but the Inflation Reduction Act is a good start.  It is essential we do not lose what we have worked towards.

Climate scientists and activists do not vote for Democrats because they have an allegiance to a party. They vote for Democrats because the Democrats listened and acted. Republican politicians have ignored the science and even attacked scientists.

Is your allegiance simply to a party or is it to evidence-based decision making, science, our kid’s future, and the health of our planet?

 

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