A comment I posted at Crooks and Liars:
The power of science is it can accurately predict the future (within defined limits). For example, some science predictions include: vaccines will protect recipients from disease; greenhouse theory predicts climate change; Theory of Evolution predicts ever increasing drug/chemical resistant bacteria/weeds/pests; the appropriate assemblage of electronic components will function as a smart phone/laptop/tablet computer when powered up (same for any machinery)... Before science, religion taught us that a higher power controlled the future and it we behaved/believed a certain way, we might be given the future we sought.
When people don't have data/information/science, there's no way to know if a policy is actually working for the people's benefit. Anecdotal evidence can be discarded as random chance or used to 'prove' effectiveness. If Pres. DJT keeps science (USDA, EPA, NIH, etc.) away from people, he'll be the religion like 'greater power' with the ability to grant wishes; he gets to tell which anecdotes are 'real' and which are 'fake news'. He can use science to get the outcome he wants (everything to him and his cohorts). The people who voted for him will be expected to worship him and gift him with everything they own.
The critical thinking atheists will be left in a world of patronage sponsored science, seeking rich sponsors to fund science to figure out what he is actually doing.
Science is important. Objective data is important. Critical/analytical thinking is important. Compassion and humanism are important.
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