What's the Bigger Problem in America?

1. 73

   Sychophantasticposted 10 years ago

   Sexual promiscuity or scientific illiteracy?
   
   This argument came up in one of my other questions and there appeared to be disagreement. I'll frame the question:
   
   Is it a bigger problem that people are having too much sex (before marriage, unprotected; etc.) or a bigger problem that people don't understand basic scientific principles and how scientific inquiry works?
   
   Support your position by describing what you think the outcome will be and what it's doing to society as a whole.

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      TwerkZerkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I'd say it's a tie between scientific illiteracy and single-issue voters.
      
      Basically, take any given contentious issue, assume that many of the people who have an opinion on that issue have very poor scientific understanding and/or reasoning ability, then present your side using only appeals to pity and other emotional responses and use as little actual logic and as few hard facts as possible. Proceed to win votes. Guaranteed.
      
      Unfortunately in America, the most compelling case and the most well-reasoned case don't necessarily have to have anything to do with each other.

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         Education Answerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         "single-issue voters"
         
         I think this is a good point.

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   2. 83

      gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Of course, scientific illiteracy.  Unfortunately, in this postmodern 21st century society, there are those who vehemently eschew evolution and other scientific advances such as stem research.  These people proclaim that evolution is not preordained and that stem research is inhumane.  They still believe that the world is 6 thousand years old.  Scientific illiteracy is abhorrent in the 21st century.  This world is becoming increasingly advanced and we need those with a high degree of scientific literacy in order to thrive in such a world.   People who have a high degree of scientific literacy have the tools(if used properly) to improve society in many aspects.   Sadly, many people are mire in the religious indoctrination and ideology of the middle ages.

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         Zelkiiroposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Who are you, and what have you done with gmwilliams?

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         1. 83

            gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I AM GMWILLIAMS.........If you did not know it already, I am a Liberal, thank you kindly.  My synopsis of the situation at hand is true and it STANDS.  America sadly in this postmodern era has an issue with science.  The level of scientific illiteracy is beyond appalling.  There are people who are quite fearful, even highly apprehensive of scientific advances.  These are the people who proclaim that humans have preordained as to how far to advance scientifically.  They proclaim that to go further is to "play God."   With such thinking, American will remain scientifically where she is, even regress into a scientific quagmire.   This is highly unconscionable if you ask me, Zelkiiro.

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               HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               I understand what you're saying, GM. There is a sector that seems to be frightened by certain advances in science and claims the scientists are "playing God," as you say. They are where they are.
               
               There is another sector that pushes so hard against the anti-science sector that they actually begin to view science in a cult sense. Science is fluid, it changes, it corrects itself. Science is not a fact but a series of theories to be tested, retested and revised as new information becomes available.
               
               Both sectors have some things right and some things wrong, but they are where they are. Consider that science gives us wonderful medications that can help us eradicate different diseases, but consider also that science has given us medications with promises (like fen-Phen) that were incredibly wrong.
               
               When we reach the level where we blindly accept all science, just because we don't like those people who don't accept science - we've become what we were pushing against to begin with.

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                  TwerkZerkerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Very well put!

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                     gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     Thank you.

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                     gmwilliamsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     Thank you.

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   3. 0

      HowardBThinameposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Of those two - I'd say sexual promiscuity is probably the "bigger" problem, but neither are truly close to the biggest problem, which is our inborn "need" to force what we think is right - on others. If we could all just back off a bit - it would help tremendously.

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   4. 82

      GA Andersonposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      No! I think I have a good comment to offer, but my school days, with edits of what to do and how to do it are long behind me.
      
      You offer an opinion and support why you posted this topic. It must mean something to you or you would not have introduced it for a discussion.
      
      GA

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   5. 61

      sannyasinmanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      What is the biggest problem in America?
      
      The privately owned company known as the "Federal Reserve".
      
      The fed as federal as McDonalds hamburgers. Abolish the Fed, allow the US government to create its money itself, and in a stroke you remove the vast majority of the USA (and the worlds) problems.

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2. 77

   psycheskinnerposted 10 years ago

   From the point of view of a scientist, how is sexual activity in itself a problem?
   
   I think sex is like anything (driving cars, work, pets, sports, etc).  Problems surround it and can occur in that context.  But the thing itself is not a problem.
   
   So by default I would say the other option.

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      Education Answerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I understand what you are saying, but there are possible consequences.  Your argument is kind of like saying that drugs aren't bad. . . .unless you use them and have an unintended consequence.  Driving 120 miles per hour isn't  a problem. . .unless you crash.  Yes, sex isn't bad unless there are consequences.  However, nothing is bad if there are no consequences. 
      
      I think I can come up with a few reasons promiscuity isn't that great.
      
      According to the CDC, more than 110 million Americans have an STD, and half of new infections each year are among young people. Promiscuity has possible consequences, such as: chlamydia, cytomegalovirus (CMV), genital warts, gonorrhea , hepatitis B, herpes, HIV & AIDS, human papillomavirus (HPV), molluscum contagiosum, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), pubic lice (Crabs), scabies, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
      
      How many unplanned pregnancies result in abortion?  How many children are born with no father in the picture?  How many young mothers struggle to go to school or hold down a job, because they were unprepared to take care of a baby who isn't much younger than they are?  How much public assistance do we offer to help people who keep having unplanned pregnancies?

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3. 73

   Sychophantasticposted 10 years ago

   I probably should elaborate because I think  the issue was more sexual promiscuity combined with the promiscuous person then relying on the government or private sector to solve their issues when a "problem" arose, like pregnancy.

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   1. 77

      psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I think anyone who has a kids just to get welfare needs mental health treatment.  It is not a trade off that really makes sense.
      
      So perhaps you simply mean "unplanned pregnancy".  Yes, that is any issue.  But if the country did not have the 50% of pregnancies that are unplanned I would argue we would be worse of, not better. The economy would most likely still be in recession.  So--still not really a problem overall, at the national level.

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         janesixposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Unfortunately, I personally know people who HAVE gotten pregnant just for the government benefits. This was a long time ago, though, when there was money involved, back in the 80's I think. Sad, really.
         
         These days, it's a lot harder to squeeze out benefits from the government.

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            Education Answerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            It's harder but not that hard.

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4. 60

   janesixposted 10 years ago

   I don't think either is a big problem in America.

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   1. 77

      Castlepalomaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Biggest problem
      
      War of the classes No 1.
      Not enough drug and sex education and treatment vs War and imprisonment over it
      3. Green power for the people vs polluted greed for profit
      4. Throw away products and relationships

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5. 66

   maxoxam41posted 10 years ago

   Or is it laziness when it comes to hunt for information?

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      Castlepalomaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Being an artist with a clairvoyance ability, it's a good part of my life's work.
      What is laziness?, sound boring.

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6. 62

   Zelkiiroposted 10 years ago

   Scientific illiteracy is a heinous crime against intelligence that serves as a reminder that post-birth abortions should be legal. So yeah, I'd say it's the bigger problem.

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7. 58

   sabo27posted 10 years ago

   I think sex is like anything driving cars, work,

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