Letter to the editor: Progressives and science

Progressives frequently appeal to science to justify radical policy, including their plan to lock down the world — and destroy the economy — to purportedly protect us from covid-19. When anyone disagrees with progressive ideas, they are often labeled as unscientific and deserving no credibility. But science has always been based on debate. Scientific journals are filled with articles written by researchers who challenge currently accepted ideas.

Furthermore, progressives who control research purse strings have politicized science by awarding government research grants to those who agree with their policy positions such as the human-caused climate change. If a scientist cannot obtain research dollars, his or her career is over, so there is a huge incentive to go along with progressive orthodoxy.

When two California doctors posted a video that disagreed with CDC covid-19 policies in April, it was removed by YouTube. Why can’t we disagree with progressives without them calling us “unscientific” and telling us to shut up?

The answer could be that progressives believe their data, computer models and algorithms produce the one and only “correct” solution. Such a viewpoint excludes free will and is ultimately authoritarian. Thus we’ve seen many dictatorial Democratic officials during this covid-19 crisis.

Let us therefore have the courage to stand up to progressives who justify dangerous policies by claiming science for themselves. Real science is practiced with open discussion and humility.

Dave Majernik

Plum

The writer is vice chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County.