Dr. Marty Klein Recap: Legitimate scientific research is often discounted by politicos proclaiming that the issue is “controversial” even when there is a clear-cut consensus among recognized scientists. Consider the so-called debates about the harmful effects of tobacco or climate change, or how IUDs and emergency contraceptives work. Combined, those high-profile issues (and others--fluoride in city water, etc.) are often identified as issues of phony controversy--as they were in a National Geographic magazine cover story, “The War on Science” (March, 2015). For a good example of that ploy we also have Jeb Bush’s (a potential 2016 presidential candidate) comments about climate change. Bush said that “he wasn’t a scientist” but nevertheless he believes the “science” of human-caused climate change was “convoluted,” and questioned the degree to which carbon emissions are responsible. “For the people to say the science is decided on this is really arrogant, to be …show more content…
Then in 1988, Congress adopted the National Day of Prayer at the demand of Rev. Billy Graham, and codified the date as the first Thursday in May at the behest of other evangelicals. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) explains: “Since they hold their events on the government sponsored National Day of Prayer, government officials of all levels participate in these events as if they were government endorsed. The Supreme Court has made it clear (and most Americans agree) that state sponsored prayer in school is inappropriately exclusionary.” Moreover, the National Day of Prayer “clearly violates the First Amendment of the Constitution because it asks state and local governments to use tax dollars and taxpayer resources to engage in admittedly religious