Yes. We suck at science, but money is not the fix Plus more on ebola and social issues

While this piece makes one of basic claims about science--that the US needs to invest in basic research--it also will not likely get basic research re-funded. Why? Because our lawmakers are largely scientifically illiterate, and cannot seem to simply fund basic research for they are in constant re-election mode, and have no sense of awe and wonder it instills to those that choose career paths in basic research.

Behind saving the habitabilty of the planet for future generations of H. sapiens, this is my number two issue.

We are not raising kids on the whole with anything remotely like the scientific and mathematic abilities to even have a real shot at a science major at even the undergrad level at a really fine school. No, political science does not count as science.

It does start at home. Parents cannot tell a child why the sky appears blue, so unless a child goes in search of real answers to these kinds of questions, they are given false answers at best, and at worst 'blown off' by their parents. I grew up in a household where one parent rejoiced in my constant questioning, whilst the other only appreciated manual labor and other provincial pursuits. Yes. I was a precocious pain in the ass. But I keep asking questions 50 years later.

Today's ebola message..

Okay, so it is not aboout ebola per se, but concerns itself with West African countries suffering food shortages due to panic buying and other factors. In some of the poorest countries on earth, supply and demand still reign supreme. At this point it looks much like other price spikes wherein the costs increase in advance of unknown future supplies. *sigh*

I could put more down about health workers stricken with ebola--as well as their families--but you can find these things out for yourselves.