A new offering from the Republicans? … er no.

Republican candidate Marco Rubio has declared his intent to run for election as US president in 2016. Having learned that touting “stupid” or “religious nut” is not a vote winner from the last election, he will be different, something new and fresh, right? …. actually no, he is more of the same …. sigh!

He did an interview with GQ, in which we have the following exchange:

GQ: How old do you think the Earth is?

Marco Rubio: I’m not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that’s a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I’m not a scientist. I don’t think I’m qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to answer that. It’s one of the great mysteries.

This is the correct place for you to now exclaim something along the lines of, “Oh for fracks sake“, or something similar.

Let us now take a quick look at this pearl of utter bollocks.

  • I’m not a scientist, man” – well, neither is my 12 year old, but she does know how old the earth is.
  • I think that’s a dispute amongst theologians” – Folks whose entire career revolves around how to converse with an imaginary friend should never ever be your go-to source for reality.
  • I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow.” – Actually, it has a great deal to do with it, people who are unfamiliar with basic facts about reality should not be left unsupervised in charge of a lawn mower. The thought that individuals who are this mentally disabled would run the entire economy is a very scary thought.
  • I don’t think I’m qualified to answer a question like that.” – Well at least he is honest about not being literate.
  • I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all” – There are indeed lots of theories on how the universe was created, but very few of them have stood up to much in the way of testing, yet he would like them all, even the ones that are known to be complete and utter bollocks, to be taught as fact.
  • Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to answer that. It’s one of the great mysteries.” – We are able to answer it, it is not one of the great mysteries. The Earth is 4.54 billion years old, give or take 50 million years; the universe is 13.73 billion years old, give or take 110 million years. Even Google knows that. These are both well-established facts based upon confirmed and verified observations of empirical data.

What can I say except to observe that … “The stupid is strong in this one”.

He is of course a Republican tea-party candidate. That is a term that some would like you to think is a reference to a well-known historical incident in Boston on Dec 16 1773, but as it turns out, is actually proving to be a reference to a well-known occasion involving Alice engaging in conversation with a hatter in wonderland.

Does this really matter, perhaps he is simply saying that the question he was asked is daft. Actually yes it does matter, our civilisation has been built upon our capacity to discover, tolerate, and accept new and uncomfortable truths instead of simply clinging on to the past for its own sake. If that ability is suspended, then so too is our civilisation.

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