SCIENCE COMMUNICATION

Voters Care About Science!

New poll adds science to the list of issues voters really care about

Despite all the activities of pro-science groups such as Scientists and Engineers for America and ScienceDebate2008, most candidates for office have not put forward comprehensive science and technology policy platforms. Of course, many of us science nerds have been making the argument that S&T is at least peripherally important to just about every major issue the nation is facing, and therefore should be addressed by candidates for elected office. But we have been fighting a losing battle against the cynical perception shared by many campaigns that candidates’ positions on S&T issues do not win votes. As it turns out, they are wrong.

Scientists and Engineers for America just released the results of a poll of over 1,000 Americans on how likely they would be to support candidates based upon their positions on key science and technology issues. SEA anticipated a positive reaction to the questions, but was stunned by the overwhelmingly affirmative response. Eighty-six percent of those polled, for example, say they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who is committed to preparing students with the skills they need for the 21st Century through public investments in science and technology education.

Similarly, 84 percent said they would be more likely to support a candidate who is committed to reducing the cost and improving the quality of healthcare through public investments in science and technology. And 52 percent indicated they would be much more likely to support candidates who expressed that science and technology is a priority for them.

Equally impressive was the party breakdown. While there remained a divide between Democrats and Republicans on all of the issues, members of both parties clearly viewed science as important. The largest divide came on climate change, where only 56 percent of Republican respondents said that they would be more likely to vote for someone committed to addressing global climate change through public investments in science and technology. This compared to 84 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of independent voters in favor of candidates who would devote public science and technology funds to fight climate change. Add up those majorities in favor of S&T spending to fight global warming and its clear it would be foolish for any campaign not to at least address the issue and support science.

Naturally, in Congress and in a political campaign, science will play second fiddle to a mismanaged war, eroding civil rights and what appears to be the start of a nasty recession. But if SEA’s polling numbers are correct, then giving science short-shrift or ignoring it completely is a strategic mistake. The poll doesn’t tell us why people valued science or how science ranked against other issues, but those details seems unimportant with such overwhelmingly positive support.

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

There are, of course, two science-related issues that most campaigns have addressed, embryonic stem cells and global warming. But that is largely due to the intense pressure put on them by the press. For the most part, campaigns have not been specific about their stance on global warming, just that it needs to be addressed. This is clearly insufficient.

The efforts to get candidates to answer basic questions on major issues is a direct response to the desire and need for change, for increased transparency and accountability by those who serve the public.

To address this critical issue directly, a coalition of organizations led by SEA and SD2008 have come up with a series of 7 questions for congressional candidates, and 14 questions for the presidential candidates on critical science and technology issues. SEA has also set up a system for the public to look up their local candidates and send the questions to them directly through the website. Candidates can then log into the website and post their responses.

As of today 18 congressional campaigns have logged in and started to answer the questions, which appear on SEA’s SHARP Network, a Wikipedia-like webpage detailing the health and science stances of all members of Congress and all candidates for office. This is, of course, not the only effort to get candidates for office to answer questions on essential issues. For example, Research America launched a campaign to get candidates to answer questions on health issues.

These web based initiatives are excellent examples of how basic Web 2.0 principles have spread into campaign and advocacy arenas. They embody a new sense of urgency that our government be truly of the people and for the people. Take the poll as an example. It tells a much larger story than the mere fact that science is important to the public. It shows that presumptions about what the public cares about ought to be challenged by advocacy groups and citizens who want their voice heard and represented by their candidates.

The efforts to get candidates to answer basic questions on major issues is a direct response to the desire and need for change, for increased transparency and accountability by those who serve the public. Indeed, the Internet has changed the way we consume information, but it has also fundamentally changed how we communicate and has empowered the people to organize and demand respect on a level that has not been seen in our time. Candidates have a choice today. They can tell their constituents where they stand on the issues. Or they can ignore them, and continue with business as usual. But the public also has a choice if their candidates fail to address their concerns. They can return the favor in the voting booth in November.

Michael Stebbins is the Director of Biology Policy for the Federation of American Scientists, President of the Scientists and Engineers for America Action Fund and author of Sex, Drugs and DNA: Science’s Taboos Confronted.

Tags: sciencedebate2008

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