How Science Has Become a Political Phenomenon | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

How Science Has Become a Political Phenomenon

But only in the United States?

54
How Science Has Become a Political Phenomenon

No one is unaware of the global pandemic that is currently going on right now, regardless of whether they choose to alter their behavior. However, as it has been approximately four months since the entire world has been on lockdown, it's been clear which nations have taken the coronavirus seriously and which have not. Based on the trend lines and data, cases in the US have only been increasing and our leader has continually been downplaying the gravity of the issue, while other countries are on a steady decline, if not completely free of COVID-19. I find this phenomenon quite peculiar, as it seems that this virus, science, and the acceptance of it has been a political statement. Simply put, accepting certain realities indicates that you must belong to a particular political party.

And it doesn't stop at the coronavirus either. Climate change is a phenomenon that 97% of climate scientists agree on, and yet, in the United States politicians cannot agree on whether or not they should take action. In other words, whether it is even a considerable issue to focus on. One party has climate change as one its biggest issues that it wants to tackle, while the other simply deregulates so that the fossil fuel industry can continue polluting the Earth. The politicizing of science started with this issue, but it became exacerbated with the onset of coronavirus.

I'm not saying that leaders of other countries had absolutely no disagreement with how the virus should be handled, but regardless of party, leaders understood that COVID-19 was a serious issue that threatened the lives of citizens. Governments all over the globe made strict social distancing rules and increased testing in order to detect as many cases as possible. However, Trump has said that the virus will fade away. It hasn't. He said that we are doing the most testing per capita in the world. We aren't. Meanwhile, in the United States there are people un-ironically saying that local governments mandating people to wear masks in public is tyrannical. Clearly these people do not understand tyranny. In a global pandemic, the general public deserves straightforward answers and a confident leader, not a cocky leader who downplays the seriousness of issues and thinks they can never do any harm.

I am not going to sit here and just berate President Trump and his party though. No one country or leader can be completely prepared for a pandemic. But at the same time, it is time to put our political bias/nonsense aside and listen to the FACTS, whether it is about a pandemic threatening thousands, or climate change threatening millions. Otherwise, I believe it is safe to say that America will be doomed.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

11 Things Summer Nannies Can Relate To

There are plenty of obstacles that come when taking care of kids, but it's a very rewarding experience.

684
kids in pool

As a college student, being a nanny over the summer is both enjoyable and challenging. Underneath the seemingly perfect trips to the pool or countless hours spent playing Monopoly are the obstacles that only nannies will understand. Trading in your valuable summer vacation in return for three months spent with a few children less than half your age may seem unappealing, but so many moments make it rewarding. For my fellow summer nannies out there, I know you can relate.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl thinking
thoughtcatalog.com

There are a lot of really easy, common names in the U.S. and while many of those simple names have different spellings, most of the time, pronunciation is not an issue that those people need to worry about. However, others are not as fortunate and often times give up on corrections after a while. We usually give an A+ for effort. So, as you could probably imagine, there are a few struggles with having a name that isn’t technically English. Here are just a few…

Keep Reading...Show less
Daydreaming

day·dream (ˈdāˌdrēm/): a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one's attention from the present.

Daydreams, the savior of our life in class. Every type of student in the classroom does it at least once, but most cases it is an everyday event, especially in that boring class -- you know the one. But what are we thinking while we are daydreaming?

Keep Reading...Show less
Jessica Pinero
Jessica Pinero

Puerto Ricans. They are very proud people and whether they were born on the island or born in the United States by Puerto Rican parent(s). It gets even better when they meet another fellow Puerto Rican or Latino in general. You’ll know quickly if they are Puerto Rican whether the flag is printed somewhere on their person or whether they tell you or whether the famous phrase “wepa!” is said.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl

If it hurts now, it'll hurt again. Not because you're gullible or naive, only because you fall fast, hard, and you do it every time.

We fall each and every time with the complete and utter confidence that someone will be there to catch us. Now that person we SWORE we were never going to fall for has our hearts, and every time we see them our palms start sweating. The butterflies in our stomach start to soar and our hearts are entirely too close to bursting out of our chests.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments