Tag: politics
Can You Believe in Science and Still Vote for Trump?
Most people understand the primacy of scientific facts in ordering our personal and public life, but a more primal imperative, tribalism, often wins out.
People Should Prove They Have Earned the Right to Have a...
The El Paso and Dayton mass murders: It is not about violent video games or even mental health., it IS about the easy access to guns. Learning from Japan.
Why I was Ashamed to be an American
.A special exhibit in Mexico City's famed Museum of Tolerance displayed U.S. intolerance of Mexican immigrants, It made me feel ashamed of being American.
How Did We End Up in a Post-factual World?
Belief in alternative facts is the hallmark of the post-factual world. It arises from our tribal nature and is very difficult to change.
Hate, Hate Speech, and Mass Murder
Political demagogues and peddlers of hate speech may not know the science of hate but they know precisely how to push the biologic buttons that can end in tragedy.
Most Americans Do Know Something About Science After All
Scientific knowledge is mostly alive and well in America with a majority (~70%) of Americans scoring a medium or high level of knowledge on the Pew survey.
How Little White Lies Can Lead to Great Big Ones
Studies show lies increase with repetition but only when the participant benefited. Self-interest is the thing that pushes people down that slippery slope.
An Election Day Reminder: Vote Like Your Life Depends On It
Politicians are fanning the dark side in America giving rise to entrenched divisions. But pulling away to our corners while insulting, demonizing, and dehumanizing people who look or think differently is a formula for national disaster.
Who Really is the Enemy of the People?
HIstory (from Nero on) teaches us that we should be alarmed about President Trump's escalating rhetoric about the media being the enemy of the people.
What is the Science Behind the Spread of Fake News?
We can learn a lot from science about the spread of fake news but what can we do to stop its dissemination and repair the damage?
What Helps to Ensure Cooperation in Diverse Societies?
A study of post-war Bosnia provides insights into what helps (and what doesn't) when it comes to ensuring cooperation in diverse societies. The findings are highly relevant to the divisiveness in U.S. society today.
Did the President Pass or Fail His Heart Health Tests?
President Trump's heart health tests have generated much discussion in the media. So I invited a triple-boarded practicing cardiologist to weigh in.