Obama and Romney tackle 14 top science questions
September 6, 2012
(Credit: ScienceDebate.org)
Scientific American partnered with grassroots organization ScienceDebate.org earlier this summer to encourage the two main presidential candidates — Barack Obama and Mitt Romney — to answer 14 questions on some of the biggest scientific and technological challenges facing the nation. President Obama and Governor Romney have now answered these Top American Science Questions.
Comments (13)
by de Broglie
Seems like Romney’s side has a much more convincing and realistic argument. Despite the fact the neocons gave us the Patriot Act, I don’t think we can trust the Democrats with internet freedom; it was former Democrat senator Chris Dodd as the Ceo of the MPAA lobbying group that was the main backers of SOPA regulations. Ultimately, technology will come about by free market forces along with government sponsored basic science. It is interesting to ponder how Peter Thiel, a main funder of the Singularity Institute, would respond to these questions. I would guess he would most likely agree with Romney’s side.
by Editor
Peter Thiel is on record as a libertarian (who are opposed to Obama-style big government)
by DrJDSJr
Anyone with a functional cerebrum is a libertarian.
by Bob Vasquez
Is Peter Thiel also opposed to the Bush/Cheney-style big government?
by Editor
I don’t know, but I think that would be consistent with the libertarian position.
by Bob Vasquez
Now, let’s compare all these answers to the 14 questions with what is actually adopted in each political party’s Platform 2012. And, compare the answers to these questions to what policies/legislation, etc., each political party has proposed, supported and for which they have voted over the past decade. (And, let’s not forget to Fact Check everything)
by Andy
What next, ask the plumber to tackle questions on brain surgery?
by Michael
Intelligent comment. I talked to a waiter several days ago he had a PhD. You never know where a good idea will come from.
by Michael Ulis
Your comment is specious; the president WILL have to be involved with science since science is the future of the country.
by JPA
maybe so..but the decisions will be POLITICAL- meaning they will be answered based on what benefits the politican, not what moves science forward or will benefit “the people” or however else you would like for decisions to be made.
by David Hallbert
Don’t worry, when we see the answers to the questions they won’t be the actual candidates personal replies, the answers will have been coached by scientific advisers and screened by political spin “PhD”s. But it will be interesting to see the campaign’s answers to scientific questions because it will signal to what interest groups the later administration feels they’ll have to keep promises to.
by trakk
true
by grettir76
No questions about technical unemployment.