Katie Couric, the US television presenter, tonight asked Obama and McCain to each name three people they'd like to have up for dinner.
Obama named a politician (Nelson Mandela), a businessman (Warren Buffet), and a relative (his granny). McCain named a soldier (David Petraeus), a businesswoman (Meg Whitman, who founded e-Bay), and an athlete (Henry Suhato, an Olympic wrestler). [see http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/08/eveningnews/main4510826.shtml ] What's interesting is who's not on the list. Note the absence of a scientist. Why no Richard Dawkins (well actually, that's a no-brainer, but it's a shame), no E.O. Wilson, no Jared Diamond, Philip Zimbardo, Steven Pinker, Vilayanur Ramachandran, or Oliver Sacks? Actually, if I had my druthers, it would be Richard Feynman, but he wouldn't be able to make it. Does this non-invite of scientists by the USA's top politicians indicate something about how politicians value the input of scientists? Stephen ----------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology, Emeritus Bishop's University e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 2600 College St. Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 Canada Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ ----------------------------------------------------------------------- --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
