It now seems apparent that COVID-19 will dominate American life for months to come, quite possibly through the national election in November.
That means the disease, and efforts to respond to it, will likewise dominate the 2020 campaign and make it largely about something it has never been about before.
That something is science.
It is hard to think of a time when hard science biology, virology, epidemiology has been so much the core of our political conflict. Issues from evolution to stem cells to vaccination have long been a part of our political conversation, but not at the forefront of presidential elections.
This virus crisis has largely taken over the political conversation. Americans are all learning new, polysyllabic vocabulary and complex truths about threats they cannot see.
And that is likely to bring out all of the culture's ambivalence about science.
Trust in science
Last summer, a Pew Research Center survey found that 86% of Americans expressed "a fair amount or a great deal of faith" that scientists act in their best interests.
But the survey's co-author told NPR, "It tends to be kind of soft support." In fact, only 48% were willing to say that medical doctors "make fair and accurate research statements and recommendations all or most of the time." And only 32% were willing to say as much for "medical research scientists."
A YouGov poll in April 2017 found an even less sanguine attitude, as reported in Scientific American. That measure found only 35% of Americans had "a lot of confidence" in scientists. A plurality (45%) had "a little," while those with "none at all" had grown substantially since YouGov polled the same question in 2013.
Little wonder then that political figures such as Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, and media personalities such as Fox News' Tucker Carlson pounce on the difference between various projections of deaths from COVID-19.
They interpret lower death totals (thus far) as evidence that the threat was overblown, even though public health experts consider it proof that shutdowns and social distancing are working and note that the threat is not over.
Rejecting expertise
Scientific experts, like experts in general, have fared poorly in the populist atmosphere of the past decade in Europe and the United States.
"Voters say they reject expertise because experts, whom they think of as indistinguishable from governing elites, have failed them," writes Tom Nichols, a professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College.
Nichols published a book in 2017 called The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why It Matters. Summing up his argument for Politico, Nichols observed that Americans have always had a healthy skepticism about "eggheads" of various kinds.
He says that skepticism renewed itself in the "social and political traumas" of the 1960s and 1970s. But since then, he argues, "Globalization and technological advances have created a gulf between people with enough knowledge and education to cope with these changes and people who feel threatened and left behind in the new world of the 21st century."
Lacking "scientific merit"
The plain fact is that for many, science is a source of wisdom but by no means the only one. There can be a "balancing" of science with religious teaching or humanistic ethics or what people may regard as their own common sense.
That is why so many Americans may identify with President Trump's overeagerness about potential drug therapies for COVID-19 that have worked on other diseases.
Trump's hopefulness for the antimalarial hydroxychloroquine, for example, was apparently not shared by one of the administration's own leading vaccine scientists, Richard Bright. Bright tried to limit broad use of the drug because its application lacked "scientific merit." As a result, he says, he was removed as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority.
In a statement released by his attorneys last week, Bright sounded the alarm: "To combat this deadly virus, science, not politics or cronyism, has to lead the way."
Also this past week, the president stood at the podium of the White House briefing room and cast doubt on the survival of the coronavirus in the fall. He then deferred to his top scientific adviser on the question.
"We will have the virus in the fall," said Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institutes of Health.
Trump also insisted the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had been misquoted about the difficulties of managing COVID-19 in the fall. Dr. Robert Redfield took the lectern to say he had not been misquoted.
But all this was prelude to the Thursday night stunner, when the president extended his embrace of "game-changer" therapy ideas to raising the question of whether injecting a disinfectant (which can kill the coronavirus on a surface) into a person could kill the virus (in reality, doing so would be toxic).
This prompted such immediate blowback from scientists, hospital personnel and even the makers of Lysol that the president later insisted he had made the comment sarcastically. And the next evening's briefing was cut off at just 22 minutes, with the president taking no questions.
A long-term struggle
The crisis is spreading through the body politic even as it spreads through the human population. It will stress both in myriad ways. Americans' conflicted relationship with science will play a role in how they deal with that stress.
For the moment, most are accepting the scientific approach of social distancing in service of a greater good. But there are rejections of stay-at-home orders in street protests and in some statehouses.
Saturday night, Trump repeated a line used to argue for reopening the country sooner rather than later: "Remember, the Cure can't be worse than the problem itself." He added, "Be careful, be safe, use common sense!"
The struggle has been joined, and it will likely outlast both this one campaign season and this one pandemic.
Continued here:
Science Becomes A Dividing Issue In Year Of Election And Pandemic - Michigan Radio
- Cancer Stem Cells FAQ | Clinical Trials and Research ... [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- University of Michigan Stem Cell Research | Overview [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2014]
- Michigan (Stem Cell) - what-when-how [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2014]
- New reprogramming factor cocktail produces therapy-grade ... [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2014]
- Startup uses 3D printing tech to create alternative to bone grafts [Last Updated On: September 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 16th, 2014]
- Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cell Research | University of ... [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2014]
- University of Michigan Stem Cell Research | Frequently ... [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2014]
- Disease decoded: Gene mutation may lead to development of new cancer drugs [Last Updated On: October 1st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 1st, 2014]
- Plant-based foods fight cancer [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2014]
- Healthy recipes with plant-based foods are weapons against cancer [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2014]
- New front in war on Alzheimer's, other protein-linked brain diseases [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2014]
- New front in war on Alzheimers, other protein-folding diseases [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2014]
- ST-elevation MI treatment with Stem Cell Therapy | Stem ... [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2014]
- NIH Human Embryonic Stem Cell Registry - Research Using ... [Last Updated On: October 27th, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2014]
- Reason to Bree-Lieve: Greenville girl continues to beat the odds [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2014]
- Stem cells help doctors restore womans smile, regenerating bone to hold dental implants [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2014]
- Researchers devise a means for growing near 2-D chemical gardens (w/ Video) [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2014]
- Bone marrow registration drive to be held at Saint Mary's College [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2014]
- Swiston receives Commitment to Education Award [Last Updated On: November 29th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 29th, 2014]
- Seeing Is Believing [Last Updated On: December 12th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 12th, 2014]
- Leukemia Stem Cell Research | University of Michigan ... [Last Updated On: January 4th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 4th, 2015]
- What makes pancreatic cancer so aggressive? New study sheds light [Last Updated On: January 16th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 16th, 2015]
- Breast Cancer Stem Cell Research - University of Michigan ... [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2015]
- Stem Cell Research - Right to Life of Michigan [Last Updated On: February 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 24th, 2015]
- Novogen (NVGN) Promising Data in Brain Cancer; eFuture Information Technology (EFUT) and ... [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- How to grow a human lung [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2015]
- University of Michigan Stem Cell Research | Stem Cell ... [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2015]
- University of Michigan Stem Cell Research | Embryo Donation [Last Updated On: May 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 12th, 2015]
- Michigan Stem Cell Amendment, Proposal 2 (2008 ... [Last Updated On: July 2nd, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 2nd, 2015]
- Michigan Catholic Conference: Home [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2015]
- Cancer stem cells - University of Michigan Comprehensive ... [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2016] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2016]
- Scientists coax stem cells to form 3-D mini lungs ... [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2016]
- Five years after Michigan vote on human embryonic stem ... [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2016]
- University of Michigan Stem Cell Research | Experts List [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2016]
- stem cell research | Michigan Radio [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2016]
- Stem Cell Therapy Treatment at Allure Medical Spa in Michigan [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2016] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2016]
- Michigan company mines stem cells in search of Fountain of ... [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2016]
- Turmeric and black pepper fight cancer stem cells [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2016] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2016]
- Cells that stand in the way of HIV cure: Discovery expands understanding of marrow's role - Medical Xpress [Last Updated On: August 5th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 5th, 2017]
- Families raise money for research into rare diseases - KARE [Last Updated On: September 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 8th, 2017]
- Anti-Aging, Regeneration and Stem Cell Supplements [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2018]
- Stem Cells FAQ Michigan Stem Cell Institute [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2018] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2018]
- Combination of traditional chemotherapy, new drug kills ... [Last Updated On: September 4th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 4th, 2018]
- Detroit Michigan Stem Cell Therapy - americanregen.com [Last Updated On: September 28th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 28th, 2018]
- Michigan Stem Cell Therapy - Foot HealthCare Associates [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2018]
- Cancer Stem Cell Research | University of Michigan Rogel ... [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2018]
- University of Michigan Stem Cell Research | Treatment and ... [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2018]
- Stem Cell Treatments MI | Michigan Center for Renerative ... [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2018]
- Breast Cancer Stem Cells Stopping Them In Their Tracks ... [Last Updated On: November 23rd, 2018] [Originally Added On: November 23rd, 2018]
- Michigan Integrative Health Dr. Roy Picard, D.C. [Last Updated On: December 27th, 2018] [Originally Added On: December 27th, 2018]
- Stem Cell Treatments Bloomfield Hills, MI | 248-216-1008 [Last Updated On: January 9th, 2019] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2019]
- Stem Cell Therapy Michigan | Regenerative Medicine 248-216 ... [Last Updated On: February 27th, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 27th, 2019]
- VetStem Biopharma Shares the Success Story of Jesse Who was Treated with VetStem Cell Therapy - PR Web [Last Updated On: December 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 8th, 2019]
- Collaborative Robots: Rai... - Robotics Online [Last Updated On: December 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: December 19th, 2019]
- BREAKING: A woman gives birth to the Son of God (Part II) - INQUIRER.net [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2020]
- The Unexpected Diversity of Pain - Scientific American [Last Updated On: January 24th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 24th, 2020]
- Engineer the future of human health with a PhD in biomedical engineering - Study International News [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2020]
- After a bone injury, shape-shifting cells rush to the rescue - University of Michigan News [Last Updated On: January 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2020]
- Stopping Smoking Allows Healthy Lung Cells to Proliferate - Medscape [Last Updated On: February 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: February 8th, 2020]
- In a CRISPR first, Editas therapy used to fix genes in the body - BioPharma Dive [Last Updated On: March 11th, 2020] [Originally Added On: March 11th, 2020]
- Erika Hersch-Green Wins CAREER Award for Biodiversity Research - Michigan Tech News [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2020]
- Are immune-compromised kids at greater risk from Covid-19? - Health24 [Last Updated On: May 3rd, 2020] [Originally Added On: May 3rd, 2020]
- Hesperos Human-on-a-Chip used to model Alzheimer's and MCI - SelectScience [Last Updated On: June 2nd, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 2nd, 2020]
- Researchers identify environmental components that affect gene expression in cardiovascular disease - The South End [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2020] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2020]
- COVID-19 Drug Discovery and Development Why Diverse Strategies Are Critical - Technology Networks [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2020]
- School of Science grows by 10 - MIT News [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2020]
- New research connects the hormones we're born with to lifetime risk for immunological diseases - MSUToday [Last Updated On: September 20th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 20th, 2020]
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) Market Primary Research, Secondary Research, Product Research, Trends And Forecast By 2026- Kite Pharma Inc., Thermo... [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2020]
- Regenerative medicine and war: The next breakthrough in treating injured veterans? - Genetic Literacy Project [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2020]
- Official Missteps in Michigan's Worst Covid Prison Outbreak - The Intercept [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2020] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2020]
- HOME GROWN: Pumpkins best left on the vine for as long as possible - The Oakland Press [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2020]
- ABC News Debuts New Primetime Series THE CON Narrated by Whoopi Goldberg - Broadway World [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2020]
- Listings - CON, THE on ABC | TheFutonCritic.com - The Futon Critic [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2020]
- Latest Update 2020: What Are the Key Players Evolving In the Growth of the 3D Cell Culture Market? - re:Jerusalem [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2020]
- Rogel team receives $11.2M to leverage the microbiome against GVHD - Newswise [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2020] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2020]
- Loss of a top autism gene may alter neuron structure - Spectrum [Last Updated On: January 17th, 2021] [Originally Added On: January 17th, 2021]
- Rowan University hosts National Science Foundation research program for undergrads - Rowan Today [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2021] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2021]
- Using a mini heart model to develop new therapies - MSUToday [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2021]
- Insights & Outcomes: Place cells, planarians, and 'prewet' proteins - Yale News [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2021]
- Male Infertility Could Be Treated With Monkey Cells; New Study Shows How These Animals Could Help Address the Condition - Science Times [Last Updated On: October 28th, 2021] [Originally Added On: October 28th, 2021]