American presidential candidates stances on science issues

[PartySick 174,289]

Hi, good people

Whether it's medical, astronomical, microscopic, or anything else, science is the most important thing we can invest in as a species. Like anything else it's raised some hotly contested debates or out right denial but, still many different view points and stances. The news blog "I F*cking Love Science" has written an article about where four presidential candidates stand on four key scientific issues: climate change, NASA funding, vaccinations, and GMOs.

Here's the article, but for those that don't want to read it, I'll do my best to sum it up quickly.

Hillary

Spoiler

On climate change, she believes it is a real problem and has a plan to cut carbon emissions to 30% below what it was in 2005 and to build half a billion solar panels by the end of her first term. She also wants to employ a "Clean Energy Challenge" to incentivize innovations by rewarding communities who can transform their areas into cleaner and more energy efficient places.

On NASA funding, she believes the space program is a good investment because it promotes scientific and technological innovation, she's also concerned about NEOs (near Earth objects) but hasn't made it clear how much funding NASA should receive.

She's advocated for vaccinations since 1993 and in 2007 proposed a plan to back autism research (she does NOT link the two together).

She favors GMOs for their track record and feels that the term "genetically modified" sounds "Frankensteinish" and when stated in other terms such as drought-resistant, the benefits are clear and the fear factor diminished. She also supports labeling GMOs.

Bernie

Spoiler

Bernie believes climate change is the single greatest threat facing our planet. He advocates immediate action and a swift transition to sustainable energy sources (wind, solar, geothermal). He proposes the "Clean Energy Worker Just Transition Act" which gives benefits to workers who leave jobs at dirty fuel industries and work for clean energy products.

He's supportive of NASA but has voted to decrease its funding since the '90's in favor of financing social issues.

He respects the desire for families to have control over the health of their children but believes vaccination is a societal scale issue that protects the general public. (I guess that implies that he supports mandatory vaccination).

He supports legislation that requires GM labels. “I believe that when a mother goes to the store and purchases food for her child, she has the right to know what she is feeding her child.”

Ted Cruz

Spoiler

He doesn't believe the Earth has gotten warmer in the last 18 years and cites satellite data. Data, mind you, that was taken during a temperature spike in '97 during an El Niño weather event. That makes it appear as if the current trends seem insignificant even though a long-term trend disproves his point entirely.

He's chairman of the senate subcommittee that oversees NASA and supports decreasing Earth Science funds but increasing the budget for space exploration.

He's vocal on his commitment to vaccinations but believes it's a state issue whether they're mandatory or not.

He points to a bounty of benefits GMOs have provided and vows to be a strong ally of GMOs and says organic food is always an option for those who choose otherwise.

Trump

Spoiler

He thinks climate change is fake, warming trends are wrong, and "a lot of people are making a lot of money".

As far as NASA funding, he thinks we have bigger problems and supports privatizing space exploration.

He believes the amount of vaccinations are what causes autism, so spread them out in small doses over time. "Doctors lied. Save our children & their future."

On GMO's...he's only said one thing about it...in a (now deleted) tweet.

Spoiler

 

My thoughts:

Hillary wins huge points from me because of this. The fact that she takes climate change and the space agency seriously and has well thought out plans makes me like her so much more. She also stands on the side of common sense when it comes to GMOs. One would think they splice corn DNA with the DNA of a werewolf from how hard people fight them  and anyone who thinks vaccines are bad is just...ignorant. Though I still can't say I trust her 100%, she's definitely jumped back up to being my second option. A close second, by the way because...

Bernie, honestly, disappointed me here. I'm glad he takes climate change seriously as well and has a plan to combat it but voting to decrease NASA's funding? I've been an enormous supporter of NASA and general lover of space science since before I can remember and that alone almost cost him my support entirely. The space agency losing funds has caused such a problem in my town and with the space shuttle program now gone, hundreds of jobs disappeared almost instantly. Because launches stopped, fewer and fewer tourists came and in Florida, tourism is our biggest asset. That's not to say the shuttle program ended because of budget cuts, I'm just saying...policies on NASA directly affect everyone here on the East coast of Central Florida. It also disappoints me to hear that he supports the labeling of GMOs but did nothing to dispel the false notions that they're unhealthy. Though I don't know that for sure, so if anyone has a link to him talking about it, I'd love to see it  I also love that he (supposedly) believes that vaccines should be mandatory! Cases of measles, small pox, and polio didn't decrease or cease entirely by some magical divine intervention, ya know. 

I can't believe I agree with Ted Cruz on anything...I mean, aside from the climate change debate. He's 100% wrong there and showing misleading trends to "prove" that he's right. Also, what's up with wanting to cut NASA funding for Earth studies? Does he think we can just pull forecasts out of our butts or something? I know he thinks it'll make it easier to mislead the public but he's wrong again. At least he doesn't think GMOs and vaccines are evil...that's...something...right?

Trump...is Trump. I'm more convinced than ever that he's just saying these things to get votes from, not necessarily stupid, but ignorant voters. NASA is unimportant? Climate change is fake? ("Over")Vaccination causes autism? Did he just call Iowans brain dead because they eat too many GMOs?

tl;dr

Hillary's spot on, Bernie's close but not quite there, Cruz is surprisingly kinda good but still evil, Trump is an idiot.

[Morphine Prince 109,969]

Any Democrat >>>>>>>>>> Republicans 

when it comes to any science issue. They are either pretending to think what they say or are willingly ignorant.  

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

You just found one of the main reasons I support Hillary as opposed to Bernie  

Cutting the funding of scientific and technological advancement is one quick ticket to the stalling of progress, which is what concerns me the most as a man of science.

Wanting to shift the focus to planet Earth is admirable, but willfully setting aside learning more about our place in the universe is not only unenlightened but also quite dangerous.

[RAMROD 118,011]

Bernie is life, I will know America is not ready to actually progress if he isn't become US1.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

Just now, Morphine Prince said:

Any Democrat >>>>>>>>>> Republicans 

when it comes to any science issue. They are either pretending to think what they say or are willingly ignorant.  

They're just appealing to the lowest denominator. 

[Luiz 4,253]

the nasa stance makes me side most towards hillary

[MJHolland 12,725]

add kasich, our next president, before i come for you 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

Just now, MJHolland said:

add kasich, our next president, before i come for you 

 

[PartySick 174,289]

2 minutes ago, MJHolland said:

add kasich, our next president, before i come for you 

They didn't include him

5 minutes ago, Luiz said:

the nasa stance makes me side most towards hillary

Same, honestly. The Space Coast is literally my back yard so that's a huge deal to me.

6 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

You just found one of the main reasons I support Hillary as opposed to Bernie  

Cutting the funding of scientific and technological advancement is one quick ticket to the stalling of progress, which is what concerns me the most as a man of science.

Wanting to shift the focus to planet Earth is admirable, but willfully setting aside learning more about our place in the universe is not only unenlightened but also quite dangerous.

Bernie wins me over emotionally and Hillary wins me over logistically  it's a constant struggle

[Iwontell 7,312]

Hillary wins this one for me...
Cruz and Trump are just an embarrassment...

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

9 minutes ago, PartySick said:

Bernie wins me over emotionally and Hillary wins me over logistically  it's a constant struggle

Honestly if it came down to ideals I'd side with Bernie in a heartbeat. I'm a resolute proponent of humanism.

But at this point in my life I've come to believe that one must have a healthy dose of pragmatism and idealism to get things done while maintaining stability and civil society.

That's Hillary in a nutshell.

[PartySick 174,289]

16 minutes ago, MJHolland said:

add kasich, our next president, before i come for you 

Looked it up just for you

Spoiler

On climate change, he had this to say: “I do believe we contribute to climate change,” he said. “We want all the sources of energy. We want to dig coal but we want to clean it when we burn it. We believe in natural gas, we believe in nuclear power, and you know what else I believe in? I happen to believe in solar energy, wind energy, efficiency, renewables.” He later clarified that, “we don’t know how much humans actually contribute.”

He, apparently, hasn't said anything about NASA...

On vaccinations: "You have to get vaccinated," Kasich said. "This is not a choice. Are you kidding me? I mean, my kids are gonna go to school I want to make sure that they get vaccinated for those basic things that protect all of us."

He apparently doesn't have a stance on GMOs either...

 

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

1 minute ago, PartySick said:

 

  Hide contents

On climate change, he had this to say: “I do believe we contribute to climate change,” he said. “We want all the sources of energy. We want to dig coal but we want to clean it when we burn it. We believe in natural gas, we believe in nuclear power, and you know what else I believe in? I happen to believe in solar energy, wind energy, efficiency, renewables.” He later clarified that, “we don’t know how much humans actually contribute.”

 

As expected. He has moderate stance on Climate Change that doesn't commit to either side. At least it rings of compromise, although this is one issue where I believe expediency trumps caution.

[PartySick 174,289]

Just now, LebaneseDude said:

As expected. He has moderate stance on Climate Change that doesn't commit to either side. At least it rings of compromise.

Mm hmm. It just ensures me more that he's the only GOP candidate that I'd be at least ok with winning. Though he doesn't have much chance...

Someone with an "anyone but Trump" profile picture on Facebook said this:

"Here is a breakdown of what the future holds. Hillary will claim the nomination thanks to the undemocratic use of superdelegates. Kasich will win the Republican nomination in the GOP convention in July because the party will recognize him as the only chance to win the election. Kasich will win the election."

So I guess Kasich's peeps should cross their fingers?

[MJHolland 12,725]

24 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

 

It's going to an open convention and he is the only candidate on the Republican side that can beat Hillary in the general in any poll released in the last few months. He's gonna be the nom no doubt.