Totally agree, but we also have academics who think all the answers are in a textbook. Lack common sense. Or they're intellectually dishonest, which sucks just the same. This, to me, is where both ideologies fail.
I'd be interested to hear Agnostic's take here. Cop without religion, think we might be in the same boat.
Id take a scientist over a politician any day. There is this strange notion that there is HUGE conspiracy in academia. Sure, there are some dishonest academics. But people make it seem like every single academic scientist is dishonest, especially when scientific results do not align with someones belief system. Then, all of a sudden scientists are in on a major conspiracy to falsify data.
Does it happen? Yes. Is it as common as the general public makes it seem? No.
As for common sense, well, its important. But if I need brain surgery, I want the neurosurgeon who is book smart, not the one who possesses more common sense. Obviously, a mixture of scientific intelligence and common sense is always a good thing. But at the end of the day, we need experts in the field who are honest. Not politicians.
Either way, Id take a handful of scientists over handful of politicians any day of the week. There is no such thing as ONE honest politician. There are many more academics who genuinely care about mankind, as opposed to all politicians who only care about thing.......money.
