[Nemesis6]

Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, said the bill’s intent is to promote “critical thinking” in science classrooms.

Critics contend it’s a shield to allow the teaching of evolution alternatives such as intelligent design and creationism.

Bill supporter Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, said that “since the late ‘50s, early ‘60s when we let the intellectual bullies hijack our education system, we’ve been on a slippery slope.”

“This is a common-sense bill,” Floyd said. “Thank you for bringing this bill to protect our teachers from the other intellectual bullies.”

Rep. Sheila Butt, R-Columbia, said when she was in high school, “we gave up Aqua Net hair spray” because of fears “it was causing global warming.”

“Since then scientists have said that maybe we shouldn’t have given up that aerosol can because that aerosol can was actually absorbing the Earth’s rays and keeping us from global warming.”

http://ncse.com/news/2011/04/tennessee-antievolution-bill-passes-house-006609

This is one of many anti-evolution, stealth-creationism/pro-quackery bills introduced by the American Taliban since 2011. Here are the nine total brought forth in 2011, including the one that was just passed.

"Intelligent design" legislation in Texas March 9th, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/03/intelligent-design-legislation-texas-006531

Antievolution legislation in Florida March 7th, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/03/antievolution-legislation-florida-006524

Second antievolution bill in Tennessee February 19th, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/02/second-antievolution-bill-tennessee-006496

Antievolution legislation in Tennessee February 11th, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/02/antievolution-legislation-tennessee-006485

Antievolution legislation in New Mexico February 2nd, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/02/antievolution-legislation-new-mexico-006469

Second antievolution bill in Oklahoma January 20th, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/01/second-antievolution-bill-oklahoma-006439

Antievolution legislation in Oklahoma January 19th, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/01/antievolution-legislation-oklahoma-006438

Antievolution legislation in Missouri January 14th, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/01/antievolution-legislation-missouri-006421

Antievolution legislation in Kentucky January 5th, 2011
http://ncse.com/news/2011/01/antievolution-legislation-kentucky-006389

For a fun little exercise, go to each of the links. They all contain a link to the proposed bill/legislation in html/pdf/rtf, whatever form. Now, search those documents for "critical". Most of them will turn up "critical thinking" and "critical analysis". Some extra ones are "strengths and weaknesses of evolution" and "academic freedom". There's a reason that they all contain stuff like this, and it's because they're all built on a framework called the "Wedge Strategy" laid out by the Discovery Institute, which details how, like a wedge, you start with the thin end, and then you can slowly work more, heavier stuff in. I don't understand this... America is supposed to have the first amendment, and yet stuff like this goes right through, even though teaching it(and its new name-variant "intelligent design") in schools has been shot down as unconstitutional by America's supreme court so many times, it just goes on and on with the lying and obfuscation. Liars for Christ as usual I guess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedge_strategy

[Shade]

See, the problem is that when you look beneath the surface, the USA is two countries which have somehow managed to avoid war with each other since 1865 and now share the same federal government. There are parts of the US where the majority wants this sort of thing. You think that's stupid, but chances are you live in the 'other' country. Or in a foreign country, like me. Best solution is to let stupid people be stupid, and move to a different state if the stupid people happen to be in the majority in the one where you live. You can't fight this with the way politics work in the US. It sucks, but there you have it.

[Mefustae]

Bill supporter Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, said that “since the late ‘50s, early ‘60s when we let the intellectual bullies hijack our education system, we’ve been on a slippery slope.”

Intellectuals in charge of the education system...

OH NOES!

[Ravenholme]

Bill supporter Rep. Richard Floyd, R-Chattanooga, said that “since the late ‘50s, early ‘60s when we let the intellectual bullies hijack our education system, we’ve been on a slippery slope.”

Intellectuals in charge of the education system...

OH NOES!

Who would've thought, huh? Not like that's the best place for them or anything, no sirree.

[rscaper1070]

Best solution is to let stupid people be stupid, and move to a different state if the stupid people happen to be in the majority in the one where you live.

This is a plan I usually subscribe to. Unfortunately if you get a large amount of ignorant people in a state such as Texas they pretty much dictate what gets printed in textbooks for the entire country.

[karajorma]

Rep. Sheila Butt, R-Columbia, said when she was in high school, “we gave up Aqua Net hair spray” because of fears “it was causing global warming.”

“Since then scientists have said that maybe we shouldn’t have given up that aerosol can because that aerosol can was actually absorbing the Earth’s rays and keeping us from global warming.”

Ummmmm. When the **** did that happen?

1. We gave up CFC based aerosols because of damage to the ozone layer, not global warming
2. Who ever said that aerosols were preventing global warming?


Is this twat actually stupid enough to be confusing the effect of sulphur aerosols and other particular matter in the high atmosphere with deodorant? Cause if he is we should really spend more time pointing and laughing at that while pointing out that this is EXACTLY why he should leave the science to the scientists. He's obviously too dumb to understand it. 

[Bobboau]

I don't understand this... America is supposed to have the first amendment, and yet stuff like this goes right through

how do you not understand it? you just explained how, the wedge.

[Mikes]

Intellectuals are dying out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSROlfR7WTo (jk, yes i know the premise is flawed; great movie though)

See, the problem is that when you look beneath the surface, the USA is two countries which have somehow managed to avoid war with each other since 1865

In one of Richard K. Morgans sci-fi novels the US eventually split into an ultra corporate nation and a fundamentalist religion based nation - commonly referred to as "Jesusland".

Just saying the fracture you mention is certainly real enough to inspire good authors

[Mustang19]

Remind me why you unbanned me again mods. Are there ever any substantial topics discussed here at this liberal circle jerk?

[The E]

Do you have something substantial (that is, factual) to contribute to the discussion, or are you just frustrated that reality has a liberal bias?

[Mustang19]

The second one. However, I really don't understand the point of all these lets-bash-fundies type threads. It's not like anyone here needs to be convinced. Doesn't it get old?

edit: I edited before UT quoted me

[Unknown Target]

You're really preaching to the choir.

This is funny cuz it's true.

[General Battuta]

There are substantial threads in GenDisc. Look for them, post in them.

[Unknown Target]

If by "substantial" you mean lots of people pointlessly pontificating about a party's imperfections, but not wanting to do anything (talk is useless after all), then yes, there is a lot of that on GenDisc.

[General Battuta]

The fact that people do not agree with your idealistic naivete is no reason for you to turn into a passive-aggressive sack of tears.

Go post in threads like this if you're tired of political discussion.

[Mars]

If you don't like GenDisc you don't have to post here?  I try not to get involved in full out circle jerks, some variety of opinion is required to make things interesting.

[Unknown Target]

The fact that people do not agree with your idealistic naivete is no reason for you to turn into a passive-aggressive sack of tears.

Go post in threads like this if you're tired of political discussion.

Lol. <3

[Mustang19]

There are substantial threads in GenDisc. Look for them, post in them.

Let's look at the front page. Fundie bashing, a dozen human interest stories, some piano player who even the OP said sucked, Toonami, some movie I will never bother to see, snakes and unicorns (what the heck were you guys doing for the past few weeks)... The GOP thread might be good but it somehow devolved into something about F-22s and their crucial importance to the budget deficit.

Don't make me start a thread about something or we'll be back to talking about Gitmo the homosexual agenda terrorism, socialism, or the fate of western civilization.

[Unknown Target]

There are substantial threads in GenDisc. Look for them, post in them.

Let's look at the front page. Fundie bashing, a dozen human interest stories, some piano player who even the OP said sucked, Toonami, some movie I will never bother to see, snakes and unicorns (what the heck were you guys doing for the past few weeks)... The GOP thread might be good but it somehow devolved into something about F-22s and their crucial importance to the budget deficit.

Don't make me start a thread about something or we'll be back to talking about Gitmo the homosexual agenda terrorism, socialism, or the fate of western civilization.

Why not do it? There always needs to be a bit of rancor to test the establishment.

[Mustang19]

There are substantial threads in GenDisc. Look for them, post in them.

Let's look at the front page. Fundie bashing, a dozen human interest stories, some piano player who even the OP said sucked, Toonami, some movie I will never bother to see, snakes and unicorns (what the heck were you guys doing for the past few weeks)... The GOP thread might be good but it somehow devolved into something about F-22s and their crucial importance to the budget deficit.

Don't make me start a thread about something or we'll be back to talking about Gitmo the homosexual agenda terrorism, socialism, or the fate of western civilization.

Why not do it? There always needs to be a bit of rancor to test the establishment.

The thing is that people here are ever so sensitive once you leave the realm of liberal mutual masturbation. The last time I tried to inject some rancor I got banned. But maybe if I start a thread about something a little less inflammatory we can have a decent debate.