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Ed Mazza writes that Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum says he loves Pope Francis, but he wants the pontiff to stop talking about climate change and "leave science to the scientists." Santorum's comments come as the Pope, who holds a degree as a chemical technician and worked as a chemist before turning to the priesthood, has become increasingly vocal about climate change. "The church has gotten it wrong a few times on science, and I think that we probably are better off leaving science to the scientists," says Santorum, "and focusing on what we're really good at, which is theology and morality, When we get involved with political and controversial scientific theories, I think the church is not as forceful and credible."
But Santorum's not a scientist either so using Santorum's own logic why is Santorum more qualified than the Pope to discuss climate change? "I guess the question would be, if he shouldn't talk about it, should you?" asked Chris Wallace of Fox News. "Politicians, whether we like it or not, people in government have to make decision with regard to public policy that affect American workers," answered Santorum, adding that while "the pope can talk about whatever he wants to talk about," he questions the Pope's use of his moral authority to combat the issue of climate change.. Santorum — a devout Catholic — disagrees with the Pope's stance that climate change is man-made and has often called climate science "political science," arguing that a scientific consensus on climate change underscores this point. "All of this certainty, which is what bothers me about the debate, the idea that science is settled," says Santorum. "Any time you hear a scientist say science is settled, that's political science, not real science."
Original Submission
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday June 09 2015, @06:26PM
Well, climate change is something that is being widely tracked by thousands of scientists around the world. The data being collected is huge. So, on that score it is exactly what should be on the front page of a site that is "news for nerds." Second, it's talking about policy on scientific matters being left to scientists, because they are more knowledgeable on the subject and can speak with authority; there is the added irony of a non-scientist decrying the input of an actual scientist on a scientific matter as not being scientific. That's of interest to me as a nerd, because I would really rather have leaders who know what they're talking about when it comes to scientific matters than bloviating airheads. Thus that's at least two major points in favor of the article's making it to the front page.
Note, that's irrespective of how you or anyone "feels" about climate change.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday June 09 2015, @06:29PM
"Climate change" is not about science. "Climate change" is nothing but politics.
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday June 09 2015, @07:27PM
So, when thousands of scientists around the world drill ice cores, take weather readings, examine the fossil record, and all the many, many other things that go into climate research, it doesn't count as science because *you* don't like what the data indicates?
It shows you don't get the basic concept of science or the scientific method.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 5, Informative) by aristarchus on Tuesday June 09 2015, @07:35PM
"Climate change" is not about science. "Climate change" is nothing but politics.
Sometimes, to be right, you have to say the opposite.
"Climate change" is
notabout science. "Climate change denial" is nothing but politics.FTFY!
(Score: 0, Flamebait) by isostatic on Tuesday June 09 2015, @07:39PM
So, on that score it is exactly what should be on the front page of a site that is "news for nerds."
Sadly, this site is not "news for nerds".
I wish they'd give Gewg and Hugh Pickens their own authorship accounts, like Jon Katz back in the day. Then we could block them.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday June 10 2015, @02:15AM
Are the PgUp and PgDn keys on your device broken?
I notice that in order to whine, you guys who do that have to
1) click the link
2) post a comment on the page.
Clearly, you don't mind us so much that you will just skip to the next story.
-- gewg_
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Thexalon on Tuesday June 09 2015, @08:01PM
Also, spending a lot of time on how somebody *feels* about climate change makes about as much sense as spending a lot of time on how somebody feels about thunderstorms: It doesn't matter how you feel, that won't change scientists' recommendation to avoid the top of a bald-peaked mountain while one is happening.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.