Flat earther Rep. Broun serves on House Science Committee

From USNEWS.com this time last year, Rep. Paul Broun declared:

” … that evolution and the Big Bang Theory were “lies straight from the pit of hell,” but Broun doesn’t believe that will negatively affect his chances of retaining a seat on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee in the next session of Congress.

“Congressman Broun intends to return to the Science Committee providing his waiver to serve on three committees is extended,” spokeswoman Meredith Griffanti told U.S. News on Monday. “We expect to know by the end of the week.”

In a rousing Sept. 27 [2012] speech at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Ga., Broun dismissed several widely held scientific beliefs.

“God’s word is true. I’ve come to understand that,” Broun said. “All that stuff I was taught about evolution, embryology, Big Bang Theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of hell. It’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who are taught that from understanding that they need a savior. There’s a lot of scientific data that I found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young Earth. I believe that the Earth is about 9,000 years old. I believe that it was created in six days as we know them. That’s what the Bible says.”

A video of the speech [see above] appeared on YouTube and the remarks quickly became a national news story. Broun, first elected in a 2007 special election, was running unopposed in November. After his comments surfaced, 4,000 voters opted to cast write-in ballots for “Charles Darwin.”

While this story isn’t hot off the press news, it is something to consider as we move into another congressional election cycle.  As we ask ourselves how to break the gridlock in Washington, it is good to remember that people like Rep. Brown sit on committees that affect not only how the government operates but also our every day lives.

The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology has 22 Republican members and 18 Democratic members.  This committee has jurisdiction over agencies like,…oh…NASA.  According to its website on jurisdiction:

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has jurisdiction over all energy research, development, and demonstration, and projects therefor, and all federally owned or operated non-military energy laboratories; astronautical research and development, including resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities; civil aviation research and development; environmental research and development; marine research; commercial application of energy technology; National Institute of Standards and Technology, standardization of weights and measures and the metric system; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science Foundation; National Weather Service; outer space, including exploration and control thereof; science scholarships; scientific research, development, and demonstration, and projects therefor. The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology shall review and study on a continuing basis laws, programs, and Government activities relating to non-military research and development.

Rep. Broun chairs the subcommittee on oversight.  I guess that is the place where he would be least embarrassing to the Republican party.  I don’t care what other people believe.  If Broun wants to interpret or believe that the earth is 9 thousand years old, that’s fine–for HIM.  That thinking has no place in government however.  I find it scary that he bases his decisions for our country on such unscientific beliefs.

If the United States is going to remain globally competitive, it has to operate  with modern science as its base.  We can’t have flat earthers in positions of authority and decision-making.  One of Rep. Broun’s cohorts on this committee used to be Missouri Rep. Todd Akin of “legitimate rape” fame.  Akin lost his election in 2012.

I fail to see how House Republicans can allow Rep. Broun to serve on a committee that is all about science when he believes that many of the underlying principles are “lies straight from the pit of hell.”  His ideas aren’t compatible with  the type of critical analyses required  for the advancement of science.  His beliefs spring from man-made ignorance rather than from most accepted Christian theology and have no place being rebranded in government policy.