Scientists to blame

In an interview, Gordon Gauchat (March 30) speculates that the most educated conservatives most acquainted with the views that question the credibility of scientists and their conclusions have “stronger ideological dispositions than people who are less educated.” I have found the opposite to be true. Educated conservatives base their views on objective experience, and can tell you why they believe what they do.

Gauchat should also look at his data. A more complete version of this article on the Internet included a graph showing moderates also don’t have much trust in science. The explanation might be in another article from the Internet that said only 11 percent of the results of 53 “landmark cancer research studies” could be replicated. In science, if a study cannot be reproduced reliably, it is wrong.

That article says, “So, what is the problem? Scientists often ignore negative findings that might raise a warning, cherry-picking the results and putting the best face on their research. The practice involves many parties – not just the scientists – in the research process who turn blind eyes to questionable actions.”

My experience indicates this is pervasive and that is why I have little confidence in science as presented today.

W.C. Rust

Wallace