DEAR MAGA: TGIF Open Thread 20221230

Nobel laureate Kip Thorne (California Institute of Technology) started the session with a brief presentation that introduced some of the barriers to communicating science to nonscientists, especially skeptics. Thorne then participated in a panel discussion, moderated by World Science Fair Co-founder Brian Greene (Columbia University). Other panelists lending their unique perspectives to communicating science were: Alan Alda, actor, writer, and founder of the Alan Alda Center for Science Communication at Stony Brook University; April Burke, congressional lobbyist for LIGO, Fermilab, and other science organizations; and Cailin O’Connor, UC Irvine philosopher of science, expert on science communication, and author of The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread.

According to Thorne, both the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the Trump presidency highlighted problems in America that must be addressed: widespread confusion about, mistrust of, and resistance to science. Rebuilding trust in science, in particular skeptical adults, requires the contribution of all scientists making an effort to connect with non-scientists. Thorne says that for scientists to be effective communicators, they must “eschew arrogance” and create messages about science that can inspire, while conveying how science works….

   

2010 poll of the Tea Party (Similar to MAGA) sample size over 3400, shows Tea Party/MAGA are actually BETTER EDUCATED so maybe that is why the mistrust FLAWED SCIENCE.

Tea Party Distinguished by Racial Views and Fear of the FutureFindings from the Blair-Rockefeller poll

Following the post-inaugural rise of Tea Party groups throughout the country, the Blair-Rockefeller Poll allowed participants to indicate whether they identified with the growing movement. 10.6% of the national poll defined themselves as Tea Party members. Tea Party members are predominantly white, middle class, educated, Christian males over the age of 45. Though the unemployment rate of Tea Party members is less than the national average, Tea Party members seem to feel that their situations are going to get worse. [Well it seems they were correct doesn’t it? -GC] This “fear of falling” has driven them to become politically engaged as voters and politically knowledgeable. Their policy preferences are very distinct, with negative views toward health care reform, [Looks like they were correct there too! -GC] specifically, distinguishing them from Republicans….

Nearly half of Tea Party members (49.9%) are middle class, with an annual household income of 40 to 100K, another 13.9% make over 100K. Tea Party members are less likely to fall below the poverty level than Non-Tea Party members. The majority (65.3%) of Tea Party members have some college training, with 27.5 % having earned a Bachelor’s Degree or higher (Figure 2).