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We've reached a truly remarkable situation: a grotesque mismatch between the American intelligencia and the American electorate. A philosophical opinion about the nature of the universe which is held by the vast majority of top American scientists, and probably the majority of the intelligencia generally, is so abhorrent to the American electorate that no candidate for popular election dare affirm it in public. If I'm right, this means that high office in the greatest country in the world is barred to the very people best qualified to hold it: the intelligencia, unless they are prepared to lie about their beliefs. To put it bluntly American political opportunities are heavily loaded against those who are simultaneously intelligent and honest.

Richard Dawkins#101

ScienceTruthSocietyPoliticsElections

About this quote

What does it mean?
There is a large gap between what scientists believe and what the public accepts, limiting scientific voices in politics.
In plain terms
Politicians often hide scientific beliefs to win votes.
What can you take from it?
Honest scientific views are discouraged in American politics.

Where it applies

  • voting decisions
  • political campaigning
  • science policy

Putting it to work

  • vote for science
  • demand honesty
  • support science policy

Questions to consider

  • Should politicians be scientists?
  • Why do voters distrust experts?

Another view

Public trust in science varies by region and issue.

More from Richard Dawkins

  1. Science offers us an explanation of how complexity (the difficult) arose out of simplicity (the easy). The hypothesis of God offers no worthwhile explanation f…

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  2. I'm not a very good politician, and it doesn't really occur to me to think about what's the best way to achieve something politically. If you look at the histo…

    Permalink to quote #102
  3. It is often said, mainly by the 'no-contests', that although there is no positive evidence for the existence of God, nor is there evidence against his existenc…

    Permalink to quote #99

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