The NY Times today brings us the story of one Dr. Jon D. Miller, who makes it his business to track the scientific literacy rate of U.S. citizens:
His findings are not encouraging.While scientific literacy has doubled over the past two decades, only 20 to 25 percent of Americans are "scientifically savvy and alert," he said in an interview. Most of the rest "don't have a clue." At a time when science permeates debates on everything from global warming to stem cell research, he said, people's inability to understand basic scientific concepts undermines their ability to take part in the democratic process.
[...]
Dr. Miller's data reveal some yawning gaps in basic knowledge. American adults in general do not understand what molecules are (other than that they are really small). Fewer than a third can identify DNA as a key to heredity. Only about 10 percent know what radiation is. One adult American in five thinks the Sun revolves around the Earth, an idea science had abandoned by the 17th century.
Yes that is bad. But, ignorance of scientific knowledge isn't a disqualifier for holding high office in the German government:
Germany's environment minister hinted Tuesday that Americans were to blame for Hurricane Katrina due to the U.S. refusal to cut greenhouse gases which many experts say cause global warming."The increasing frequency of these natural events can only be explained through global warming which is caused by people," said [Juergen] Trittin who is member of the Greens in a ZDF TV interview.
Trittin contrasted Germany's cutting of greenhouse gas emissions by 18.5 per cent since 1990, with the U.S. from which emissions have continued to increase.
"A U.S. citizen causes about two and a half times as much greenhouse gas as the average European," said Trittin.
Which would explain why Europe has fewer hurricanes, I guess.