Discussion: Why is the US so behind in the acceptance of the Sciences?

Ichinaru19

I was reading this article I found on Facebook, and some of these stats on the US is horrifying. Take a look for your self and tell me what you think

Quote:

A national poll, conducted in March for the Associated Press, found that 42 per cent of Americans are “not too” or “not at all” confident that all life on Earth is the product of evolution. Similarly, 51 per cent of people expressed skepticism that the universe started with a “big bang” 13.8 billion years ago, and 36 per cent doubted the Earth has been around for 4.5 billion years.

The American public’s bias against established science doesn’t stop where the Bible leaves off, however. The same poll found that just 53 per cent of respondents were “extremely” or “very confident” that childhood vaccines are safe and effective. (Worldwide, the measles killed 120,000 people in 2012. In the United States, where a vaccine has been available since 1963, the last recorded measles death was in 2003.) When it comes to global warming, only 33 per cent expressed a high degree of confidence that it is “man made,” something the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has declared is all but certain. (The good news, such as it was in the AP poll, was that 69 per cent actually believe in DNA, and 82 per cent now agree that smoking causes cancer.)

SOURCE: http://www.macleans.ca/politics/america-dumbs-down/

This is saddening if you read more of the article. And this is probably the reason why our country is falling behind other countries overall. Our education system frankly sucks compare to other countries education system and that's partly because we don't value education like other countries have done.

americanshameless

Why is the US so behind in everything?

Buddy!

Quote:

“not too” or “not at all” confident that all life on Earth is the product of evolution

Deep south sis

Embarrassing, though.

CakeLike

Religion

Baha

Dude I'm not american and I didn't know any of that either. Stupid thread.

Rama

inb4 we're not all ignorant u thirdworlders pressed souls!!!11

Rogue

Quote:

Originally posted by Buddyc614

Deep south sis

Embarrassing, though.

The south is a scary place.

BILLIONAIRE✘BOY

Unfortunately religion is still dense here. There are actual people who believe dinosaurs never existed when there are actual facts, its really sad .

Skywalker

Strong religion in the Bible Belt and some places in the south makes it impossible for the USA to reach a high standard.

EnigmaPopstar

Quote:

A national poll, conducted in March for the Associated Press, found that 42 per cent of Americans are “not too” or “not at all” confident that all life on Earth is the product of evolution.

welp

Ichinaru19

Quote:

Originally posted by Baha

Dude I'm not american and I didn't know any of that either. Stupid thread.

This isn't a stupid thread if you know the stats on where the US stands compare to other countries when it comes to education. Also what are you saying when you said "I didnt know any of that either"? Are you saying that you didn't know the questions posed to the people in the poll? If so, thats sad. (Unless I'm not picking up what you really meant)

Ichinaru19

I don't think religion is the only answer, but a majority of it. What about these countries they discussed in the article? Are they religious?

Quote:

They don’t appear to be getting much smarter as they age. A 2013 survey of 166,000 adults across 20 countries that tested math, reading and technological problem-solving found Americans to be below the international average in every category. (Japan, Finland, Canada, South Korea and Slovakia were among the 11 nations that scored significantly higher.)

BlueTimberwolf

We have a strong culture of people having the right to believe whatever they want, no matter what it is.

LovingYourCareer

-brian

We contribute a HUGE amount to the science world but unfortunately the South is just dominated by religion. It's like two different worlds honestly.

Quote:

Originally posted by Rama

inb4 we're not all ignorant u thirdworlders pressed souls!!!11

But

Quote:

Originally posted by americanshameless

Why is the US so behind in everything

Ichinaru19

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueTimberwolf

We have a strong culture of people having the right to believe whatever they want, no matter what it is.

Yes I think this adds into our HIGHLY individualistic country while other countries have a better balance of collectivist and individualism

Wonda

Hmm. I would consider myself a part of that 42%.

Baha

General education is no that relevant considering that America is the land of professionals.

Americans know how to do their job instead of focusing on uneccessary things. USA has top surgeons, scientists, laweyers, doctors, engineers. etc. despite average american lacking in general knowledge.

Plus there's difference between being knowledgeable and being logically smart.

fabbriche

The US has the largest number of Protestants in the world and Protestantism birthed fundamentalism. Fundamentalism rejects evolution.

Ichinaru19

Quote:

Originally posted by Baha

General education is no that relevant considering that America is the land of professionals.

Americans know how to do their job instead of focusing on uneccessary things. USA has top surgeons, scientists, laweyers, doctors, engineers. etc. despite average american lacking in general knowledge.

Plus there's difference between being knowledgeable and being logically smart.

Focusing on unnecessary things? So what a few individuals become highly successful, it doesn't make a damn difference in the end if a large portion of the population is left behind educationally wise. Education is what allows individuals to achieve their jobs so I don't really understand what you are coming from.