Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
The fact that this doesn't concern people disturbs me. You're nearing the end of the second term of a president who was ignorant of science, and it's fair to say it hasn't been America's greatest years. Scientific ignorance reaches so far beyond the ability or willingness of the candidate to speculate on the origins of life and species, it shows a deeply rooted philosophy of arrogance, ignorance and pig-headedness that will show itself in the way he runs a country. The fact that people of above-average intelligence (which is what I would consider much of AT) would consider this unimportant astounds and shocks me.
First of all, Ron Paul is far more accomplish than our current president. I would think his academic track record is pretty damned good if he was a doctor - perhaps back then was not as difficult as now, but I don't see how he could have drunk his way through college and med school.
Also - he ultimately doesn't have all the details in this topic, and neither do we. The only ones that really understand evolutionary theory are those actually studying it. As a doctor he learned a skill and I can't see why a gynecologist needs to descend into evolutionary or genetic theory. As a politician he learned...whatever politicians learn
When we ask a question like "do you, or do you not believe in evolution" to prospective presidential candidates I think we are ultimately doing a dis service to what we COULD be asking instead that is potentially more relevant for this country. Remember- do we expect politicians to really understand it? Hell - again - do we expect ourselves to fully understand it? If anything most of us probably have a few facts about evolution wrong even if we do support it.
Once many moons ago I cared a lot about this, but now I realize that it is a polarized issue like any other that hacks want to push in order to muddle the relevant issues.
The day RP starts to advocating banishing teaching evolution, or the teaching of creation in a public classroom by the federal govt will be the day that I am truly disturbed and will not longer support him. But until then, I don't particularly put his belief on this matter as a priority, and nor do I particularly care if Romney believes he is wearing magic underwear.