Castiel233 Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 A UK Member of Parliament, David Tredinnick (who sits on the science and technology committee,no less) has claimed the astrology could have a role to play in healthcare.Without a hint of irony, he has claimed that those (such as , oh I don't know real scientists) who reject astrology are driven by "ignorance" and "superstition" Scientists are not just "ignorant" according to David, when it comes to using the planets aliments to chart the cause of ones life, but also "deeply prejudiced" He has stated in the House of Commons that "blood does not clot under a full moon" and has been quoted saying that homoeopathy can cure HIV and cancer. His views have rightly attracted criticisms from: The New Scientist Physicist: Prof Brian Cox Former Chief Science advisor to the UK Government Sir John Beddington Campaign for science and engineering Tredinnick's love of woo on the bio section of his website is hidden under the phrasing of "integrated medicine"
sdelsolray Posted March 8, 2015 Posted March 8, 2015 Tredinnick was elected to Parliament by the voters in his constituency. Blame the chucklehead voters.
Thurisaz Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Details may possibly vary in the UK but over here in the Vaterland you get to be a higher-up in politics by tribalism and cronyism, and nothing else. What you do or don't know, or are or aren't capable of, is totally secondary (at best). To be "politician-worthy" it's probably enough to say the right buzzwords in the right places a few times... you know, stuff like "reforms for austerity", "cut taxes on the rich" (gee Watson, why do you think the state's out of money in the first place hmmm?), "evil communists", or - lately - "Ukrainian freedom fighters" referring to images of fascist militias over there openly wearing swastikas. From there, you just need to kiss the correct boots and your career in politics is almost an inevitability.
R. S. Martin Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Thurisaz, I have a feeling that like me, you're one of those citizens who know too much for their own good. You've exposed all the tricks of the powerful and stolen the trust of the vulnerable. It would be so much easier and more comfortable to just rant and rave about stupid in high places. That let's us little folk feel like if we were running the countries of the world, things would be oh so much better. Now we have to deal with the fact that we haven't a snowball's chance in hell to get into a leadership position because we weren't born into the right tribe and are therefore in no position to kiss the right boots.
R. S. Martin Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 I must say, when I started reading the OP I had to check the name of the country--I thought this stuff happened in the US, not the UK. Doesn't sound healthy for the world if our government officials are this stupid and if leadership really is decided like Thurisaz suggests.
Thurisaz Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Oh we do have a chance but only if we force the current system of predator capitalism to change. Sadly there seems to be only one way for that. Viva la revolucion. (Sp?)
Castiel233 Posted March 9, 2015 Author Posted March 9, 2015 To add, its not that this chap believes and promotes woo that is the main problem, its that he sits on a science and a health committee while calling real scientists ignorant
florduh Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Those statements would be a bit much even for Dr. Oz, though he did do a segment on "angels" last week. I guess it's a universal truth that ignorant people often achieve positions of power; just look at the US Congress.
yunea Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 Rejecting astrology is superstitious? The irony. I'd laugh if it wasn't for these people actually being involved in making decisions that affect large groups of people.
Justin Posted March 9, 2015 Posted March 9, 2015 I must say, when I started reading the OP I had to check the name of the country--I thought this stuff happened in the US, not the UK. Doesn't sound healthy for the world if our government officials are this stupid and if leadership really is decided like Thurisaz suggests. Yeah I thought the US is the only place with nut jobs running the show.
Thurisaz Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 Sadly, this shit is caused by things that are pretty universal throughout all of humanity, and other things that are common in our current systems of (official) representative democracy. Some countries/people will be more vulnerable to this shit than others, due to cultural differences and such, but I don't think that any nation or such has a reason to not bother at all. Sadly. Edit: I recently linked a cracked.com article in the Off Topic forum on why humans simply suck at democracy. Some of you folks may find it... interesting.
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