# Stupid Republican idea of the day
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 246
### Author:  [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4901 "2012-03-27T13:57:16Z")
Sigh.
[TN Lawmakers Approve Evolution Bill](http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120327/NEWS0201/303270027/TN-lawmakers-approve-evolution-bill). The headline is misleading; it’s actually an _anti_-evolution (and global warming and science in general) bill.
> [@](#):
>
> Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill that would encourage classroom debate over evolution, sending it to Gov. Bill Haslam for signature.
>
> The state House of Representatives voted 72-23 on Monday night to concur with Senate Bill 893, which calls on schools to create an environment that helps “students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories,” including evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming and human cloning.
Not content to rest on that accomplishment, the state legislature is also condering a bill to [limit the number of foreign workers permitted at charter schools](http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120327/NEWS0201/303260065/TN-bill-would-limit-number-foreign-workers-charter-schools). Three guesses why. Give up?
> [@](#):
>
> A conservative group that has warned of the growing influence of Islam is promoting a bill that would limit how many legal immigrants charter schools can hire, drawing opposition from charter school and immigrant groups.
>
> The Tennessee Eagle Forum, an organization that has criticized U.S. immigration policy and last year pushed for passage of the so-called “Shariah bill,” is pressing Tennessee lawmakers to pass legislation that would cap the number of foreign workers charter schools can hire.
That’s right, we don’t want our kids exposed to people in our public schools who don’t believe exactly as we do. Heaven forbid they learn anything about Islam except fear and hatred.
_sob_
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### Author:  [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4902 "2012-03-27T15:35:26Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The state House of Representatives voted 72-23 on Monday night to concur with Senate Bill 893, which calls on schools to create an environment that helps “students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories,” including evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming and human cloning.
Yes, I’m certain there’s more to it than this, but what’s the problem here? This exactly describes what the scientific process should be.
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### Author:  [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4903 "2012-03-27T15:45:02Z")
> [@](#):
>
> The state House of Representatives voted 72-23 on Monday night to concur with Senate Bill 893, which calls on schools to create an environment that helps “students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories,” including evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming and human cloning.
> [@Enderw24](#):
>
> Yes, I’m certain there’s more to it than this, but what’s the problem here? This exactly describes what the scientific process should be.
So when a Tennessee teacher gives a lecture explaining that evolution by natural selection is an extremely well established explanation of our observations, and that there is very little disagreement within the scientific community about the theory in the larger sense, do you think the legislature is likely to look upon this happily?
Or better yet, the teacher decides, “You know what? That phrase about ‘weaknesses of existing scientific theories’ means I don’t have to teach anything at all about intelligent design because it’s not a scientific theory.” Will they give him a pat on the back for that?
Pull the other one. This sort of nonsense is always about trying to discredit evolution and science in general. Why? I guess because there aren’t enough stereotypes about southern morons being anti-science and anti-education.
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### Author:  [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4904 "2012-03-27T15:55:15Z")
OK, so let me modify what I’ve said. It’s a badly written law in that it includes “human cloning” in the list. There’s no theory of human cloning and, thus, there’s no way to review the weaknesses of it.
Other than that, I don’t have a problem. The law (as I see it) is not asking for alternative, non-scientifically valid theories to be taught. It’s not asking for weaknesses to be presented based upon no evidence. It asks “students understand, analyze, critique, and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories”
You may be wary of this because it was passed by people with a stupid agenda. And you’d probably be right to be wary. But look at it again, just as the law is written. This is _exactly_ what real scientists do all the time. You would never have a modification of a scientific theory if you couldn’t objectively analyze current theory and probe for its weaknesses.
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### Author:  [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4905 "2012-03-27T15:56:56Z")
Yes, sounds reasonable doesn’t it? However what the law really does is set the state up for another Scopes trial. The purpose is to allow teachers (or other students) to teach against evolution or other “controversial” science topics. [Evolution Debate Bill is Religion Poorly Disguised](http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120321/OPINION01/303210097/Evolution-debate-bill-religion-poorly-disguised):
> [@](#):
>
> Does anybody think that Senate Bill 0893, as amended, is really about making our children smarter, more intelligent and better critical thinkers? No, not on any side of this argument. This bill is about wedging open a door to include a radically divisive, ultra-conservative Christian agenda disguised in politically correct language.
>
> Is this bill intended to help teachers deal with students’ concern that what they are being taught about evolution in school is not what they are being taught about evolution in Sunday school, asked Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, of the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson. Crowe asked the right question, but he did not get an answer; Watson just read the language of the bill, as he did to answer each concern raised on the Senate floor. Because the innocuous language of the bill shields not seekers of knowledge, shields not critical thinking about scientific debate, it opens the gates for some Sunday school teachers to hijack biology class by proxy.
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4906 "2012-03-27T15:57:44Z")
You’ve never heard of the “teach the controversy” line of attack?
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### Author:  [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4907 "2012-03-27T16:49:55Z")
Ken Miller exposes and dismantles it [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVRsWAjvQSg) - necessary viewing as a primer to how evolution is framed in the US IMO.
Incidently, I got him confused with Ken Russell, whom I just found out had died.
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### Author:  [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4908 "2012-03-27T18:04:57Z")
> [@Morgyn](#):
>
> [A web-only campaign video/ad from the Santorum campaign](http://youtu.be/DApjHZq9o7M).[sup]1[/sup] :rolleyes:
>
> About the only thing it lacks is a little girl playing fortuneteller with a daisy.
>
> [sup]1[/sup]Link goes to Youtube, not the Santorum web site.
The video is a joke, right?
Right?
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### Author:  [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4909 "2012-03-27T18:29:31Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#):
>
> The video is a joke, right?
>
> Right?
[It’s real.](http://www.npr.org/2012/03/24/149304418/dissecting-santorums-ominous-obamaville-ad) And it was produced by his campaign committee, not a PAC/SuperPAC. And it is a “teaser” for a series of 8 videos.
Frightening, isn’t it?
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### Author:  [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4910 "2012-03-27T18:35:48Z")
> [@Morgyn](#):
>
> [It’s real.](http://www.npr.org/2012/03/24/149304418/dissecting-santorums-ominous-obamaville-ad) And it was produced by his campaign committee, not a PAC/SuperPAC. And it is a “teaser” for a series of 8 videos.
> Frightening, isn’t it?
I dunno. If we could get Crow and Tom on it, it could be gold.
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### Author:  [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4911 "2012-03-27T20:05:18Z")
> [@gamerunknown](#):
>
> Ken Miller exposes and dismantles it [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVRsWAjvQSg) - necessary viewing as a primer to how evolution is framed in the US IMO.
>
> Incidently, I got him confused with Ken Russell, whom I just found out had died.
Is it normal to start university seminars with a prayer in many parts of the USA? How bizarre.
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### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4912 "2012-03-27T20:24:22Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#):
>
> Is it normal to start university seminars with a prayer in many parts of the USA? How bizarre.
Not at any of the Universities I’ve attended, or attended seminars at. It IS bizarre.
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### Author:  [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4913 "2012-03-27T21:53:20Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#):
>
> Is it normal to start university seminars with a prayer in many parts of the USA? How bizarre.
Not normal for a public univerisity, no.
However, I’ve been to public high school faculty meetings that began in prayer.
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### Author:  [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4914 "2012-03-27T22:16:13Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#):
>
> Is it normal to start university seminars with a prayer in many parts of the USA? How bizarre.
We don’t do it in Los Angeles.
But, ya know, we’re heathens.
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### Author:  [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4915 "2012-03-27T23:00:47Z")
I hear many petitions to the Lord start off with a prayer.
As for the lecture, her note that it was something more than a regular lecture (this was supposed to be a debate) suggests more than one speaker and the blessing was part of the overall programme.
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### Author:  [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)
#### Post date: [March 27, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4916 "2012-03-27T23:54:31Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> I hear many petitions to the Lord start off with a prayer. …
You went to seminary school with Jim Morrison? 🆒
CMC fnord!
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2012, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4917 "2012-03-28T01:15:57Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#):
>
> I hear many petitions to the Lord start off with a prayer.
I thought you CANNOT petition the Lord with prayer.
That album is over 40 years old, so I thought I’d expand on it for the younguns, **CMC**.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2012, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4918 "2012-03-28T01:41:49Z")
About my only abiding regret for my youthful enthusiasm for exotic chemicals was this: for about two weeks there I thought Jim Morrison was deep.
Then I read those lines about “legs furiously pumping in mute nostril agony” and collapsed into giggling fits.
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### Author:  [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4919 "2012-03-28T02:58:30Z")
You mean the rumor some months before the reality? I might remember it.
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### Author:  [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/4920 "2012-03-28T08:52:17Z")
By Kalliste, I think you’re onto something.
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