What is happening to the party of Ronald Reagan? He embraced scientific understanding of the environment and pollution and was proud of his role in helping to phase out ozone-depleting chemicals. That was smart policy and smart politics. Most important, unlike many who profess to be his followers, Reagan didn’t deny the existence of global environmental problems but instead found ways to address them.
The National Academy reports concluded that “scientific evidence that the Earth is warming is now overwhelming.” Party affiliation does not change that fact.
Once upon a time there were moderate, pro-science Republicans in DC, like Sherry Boehlert, former chair of the House Science Committee. They are pretty much all gone from office now, replaced by Tea Party extremists, but Boehlert had a great op-ed in Friday’s WashPost, with the print headline, “Science the GOP can’t wish away.”
Here are more excerpts:
Language Intelligence: Lessons on persuasion from Jesus, Shakespeare, Lincoln, and Lady Gaga
