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Trent Lott calls Mathematics And Science - A "Waste Of Time"

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n2doc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:32 PM
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Trent Lott calls Mathematics And Science - A "Waste Of Time"
THURSDAY, APRIL 07, 2011

Mathematics And Science - A "Waste Of Time"
Trent Lott, former US Senate Majority Leader (and, a Republican, but you can draw your own conclusion there), proudly declare that, for an lawyer-to-be, studying mathematics, science, and especially physics, is a ".... waste of my time, waste of my teacher's time and a waste of space... "

Which, of course, didn't preclude him from deciding if something is worth funding or not. That then calls into question on how he would decide such a thing if it is a science/technical field. Did he simply delegated it to his minions? Or did he not based on scientific/technical merits, but rather purely on political issues? This type of attitudes, and lack of knowledge, explains why there were really astoundingly silly actions that have taken place.

It is one thing to be ignorant of what you don't know. It is another to actually be PROUD of such ignorance. I am not surprised if a large percentage of current crop of politicians (Tea Party, anyone?) have equal view on science.



http://physicsandphysicists.blogspot.com/2011/04/mathematics-and-science-waste-of-time.html
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fascisthunter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:36 PM
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1. Rich Man wants Lowerclasses to Stay Uneducated to Maintain Power and Wealth
better heading
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Tansy_Gold Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:38 PM
Response to Reply #1
4. Not just a "better" heading -- more scientifically accurate too. n/t
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RKP5637 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:37 PM
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2. Yep, he's preparing to take America down a path of living back a few centuries in
the 21st century. Other countries are more than pleased to take the lead and Americans can dwell as bottom feeders. China and India come to mind as two countries that will lead.

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vim876 Donating Member (268 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:37 PM
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3. Wow. That's nuts.
For the record, I hated math in high school. And most of my science classes. But that doesn't mean they were a waste of time. It simply means we need to find better ways to teach these subjects to students with broadly varying levels of interest in a subject. Because without science class, I wouldn't know that, for instance, climate is not the same as weather, which would certainly affect my policy beliefs. And would explain a lot about Lott's.
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bananas Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-09-11 03:08 PM
Response to Reply #3
17. "we need to find better ways to teach these subjects" - absolutely correct
There's no reason anyone can't learn these.
But different people learn and understand differently.
For example, most athletes have a very good understanding of physics, but it's intuitive.

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napi21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:39 PM
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5. It appears a LOT of the people in both houses feel the same way!
Why else would they ignore the largest expenditures of the Gov't when they're trying to cut spending? Why else would so many think climate change is fiction when we've had the hottest summers, coldest wintes, strongest & most prvalent storms, in history?
It's no wonder they don't want to fund education! All they think anyone should learn is how to read & write English and nothing else!
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Blue Owl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:40 PM
Response to Original message
6. The age of unenlightenment, brought to you by TRENT LOTT
Stupid and proud of it.
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provis99 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:42 PM
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7. He's from Mississippi.
Pride in ignorance is a normal thing there.
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LaurenG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 01:46 PM
Response to Original message
8. I think there has been a plan all along to dumb down their base
and then pull as many people as possible as far to the right as they can. Then it's easy for them to make the ignorant masses believe every word they say.

What planet is this or is this just a freaking nightmare we're all having?
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toddwv Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. Actually, I think it's more like there has been a plan all along to dumb down the general population
which would make their base look less like the ignorant, uneducated, anti-intellectual troglodytes that they are.
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LaurenG Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 02:59 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. I totally agree with that too. I just think the progressive base is smarter
Edited on Fri Apr-08-11 03:16 PM by LaurenG
and we are never going to buy their crap.



edit: spelling lol
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cognoscere Donating Member (381 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 02:48 PM
Response to Original message
10. That comment coming from a man who is a monumental waste of air,
food, and water that could be better utilized by any non-republican person.
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Thor_MN Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 08:29 PM
Response to Original message
12. Well, he is right. School, for him, it was a waste of time and space. He didn't learn a damn thing.
Now for most normal people, math and science are valuable, but if you want to be a dumbass, you can skip most classes.
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somone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-08-11 09:01 PM
Response to Original message
13. Hot air rises
There's physics for assholes.

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Enthusiast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-09-11 08:01 AM
Response to Original message
14. Republicans celebrate ignorance.
That is all.
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deutsey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-09-11 09:09 AM
Response to Reply #14
16. Ignorance is Strength n/t
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BadgerKid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-09-11 08:51 AM
Response to Original message
15. Save more money: de-fund sci/math, increase H-1B visas.
Oh wait....
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n2doc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-09-11 03:27 PM
Response to Reply #15
18. Yeah! let them egg-heads in other countries take the boring classes!
We's gonna play some FOOTBALL!
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krispos42 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-09-11 10:08 PM
Response to Original message
19. From the prices they charge, I doubt lawyers understand math anyway.
I mean, they gotta be off by a decimal... right?
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Gator_Matt Donating Member (186 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-10-11 10:17 AM
Response to Reply #19
20. Most lawyers are poorly paid
1. Law school is very expensive, so most are burdened with hefty student loans.

2. Unlike with medicine, the ABA keeps opening new law schools and churning out too many lawyers. As a result, earning a living as an attorney is difficult.

3. Lawyer salaries are bimodal. The overwhelming majority earn peanuts, while a lucky few earn the big bucks.

4. A good lawyer is generally worth the price. Want to make sure you don't get screwed on a contract? Want the best counsel when the government charges you with a crime that you didn't commit? Want to make sure that invention you created is protected? Then hire a lawyer.

5. An unbelievable number of lawyers work for the public interest and/or do pro bono work.
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gtar100 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Apr-10-11 01:16 PM
Response to Original message
21. If he's to be taken at face value, he's an idiot. If he's doing it to discourage people,
he's an evil son-of-a-bitch.
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