I have been trying to avoid watching commercial TV as we get closer to the election. But as I surfed through the few channels that make it into the hollow, I can’t help but notice that the negative political ads are getting even uglier.
One would wonder why these are seen as being so effective. Perhaps it is like on the schoolyard when a wise child realizes that there is no adult supervision and the best survival tactic is to stand behind the nastiest bully.
I guess part of the problem is that you often need to speak to people in terms they understand. At one point in my lab career, I encountered a person studying medicine who, apparently attracted to the spotless and well scrubbed hot bench, had ignored the yellow and purple tape with radiation symbols and spread his lunch out and was starting to tuck in. Explaining the scientific reasons of why that was not a good thing to do had no effect. I had to explain that such an activity could result in a fine (costing research funds) or suspension of our license to handle radionuclides. Such an eventuality would seriously compromise the inclination of Professor X to write a recommendation for a coveted residency.
This morning I was pleased to hear a report on the radio that a politician has finally done this for golbal warming:
Unchecked global warming will devastate the world economy on the scale of the world wars and the Great Depression, a major British report said Monday.
It is looking like a glorious late autumn day today after some stormy weather. Can’t understand why people would risk messing this up for short term monetary gain…
