Thank you very much for speaking up with such clarity and experience. Just because the horrific damage is not visible to enough people, doesn't mean it's not killing all of us.
I’m afraid that this is a sad result of the long slow erosion of our education system. Kids are not taught civics or government, the literacy rates are abysmal, especially in states where education is less funded. When the ability to think critically and the desire to read are eliminated, it paves the way for religion and politics to instill fear and division upon the ignorance. In the past 10 years I’ve seen science, compassion, expertise, critical thinking, civic engagement all vilified. Labeled as “ woke”, “elitism” and other labels which dehumanize and discredit any critical thinking. It’s something I have fought against my whole life and I instilled the respect for critical thinking and objectivity in my kids, and I allowed them to choose if they wanted to have religion in their lives or not. Too many kids… and adults have been steeped in this brew of religion and fear and division their whole lives now with no countering of these values.
The 1983 report "A Nation at Risk" should have been the warning to all, but it went unheeded. To many who benefited from excellent schools in the 60s and 70s were content to let the public schools wither so they could have low taxes, especially if that meant avoiding paying to educate a population that was increasingly diverse. And when I was in journalism school in the mid-80s, one of my professors warned that letting Rupert Murdoch in the door to start a fourth network would be the undoing of us all. At the time, the broadcast students were just excited about prospect of another place to apply for jobs. The end of the Fairness Doctrine and the rise of cable news, ahead of internet, social media and, of course, Citizens United have created a stream of steady blows to reliable information and a national consensus of facts.
It's a cryin', criminal shame what Trump and his monkeys are doing to the scientific community, the education system, health care, even weather forecasting! We're being "governed" by a troop of chimpanzees!
Thank you, Dr. Szostak for articulating what so many of us feel. However, your personal journey stands out precisely for the vision and opportunities you saw in America. That you were willing to invest your intellect in our collective good makes your perspective especially important to me. Knowing it is similar to so many immigrant stories who brought the same passion for curiosity / experimentation and also public good--makes it especially saddening to read your chronicle of how far, and how fast, we've fallen.
I know we cannot give up hope, but it has suffered a mighty blow with the numerous ways the regime has cut science off from reality. It's one of the reasons I feel so deeply for the younger generations. It makes me sad to my core that they are being robbed not only of opportunities, but also the benefits.
Wow, your article is spectacular and should be read by as many people as possible. I will share and ask others to do the same. My sincere thanks to you, Mr. Jack Szostak, for this summary and your decades of work.
Thank you for writing this article. I concur 100% and I am so concerned about our standing in the world as we leave science behind, leave arts behind, leave immigrants behind, leave education behind and more so that greed, corruption, oligarchy etc takes place in its place. I enjoy Home of the Brave because just ordinary people speak up. And that's what we have to do as collective...we in all communities must speak up. Thank you again and I wish you well.
Luckily for you Jack you are white. The deportations are reserved for the non-whites for now. I'm sure they'll move on to include the whites that they believe aren't the right sort of white soon but meanwhile......Vance is doing what no leader or Vice leader of a country has ever done. Playing a part in another country's election so openly. On stage with Hungary's hated president and rallying for him! I know they've done it behind the scenes before but this just proves that America doesn't care what the world thinks. Only what those dictators think. Stop paying taxes and see how long it takes to 25th this paedophilic liar.
thank you for your contributions to the country I love and the democracy we depend on for our freedom. Damn the aspiring autocrats who strive to destroy it for their own personal gain.
William, I so agree. At one time, the state attorneys general were looking at the possibility of withholding federal income taxes to this lawless regime. While we, as citizens, cannot withhold tax payments without a substantial penalty, the thought was that the states could hold this money as leverage to correct this incompetent, lawless, and vile administration. I know the AGs are inundated with other battles to fight, but if this is possible, itwould create a powerful tool for reining in the Federal Government. Writing a check for taxes this year was excruciatingly painful for me when I considered that the money is used to extort, bomb, and maim innocent people, destroy science and the environment, all while enriching the Trump administration. Perhaps we should all contact our state AGs to see if this is under consideration. Hopefully, California will take the lead as the world 4th largest economy where withholding funds would likely have an immediate impact.
Christopher Armitage on Substack has a lot of great ideas on just this. He also has sample letters for every state AG and Secretary of State one can send. It’s called ‘soft secession’. I’ve filed extensions the last 2 years… have to estimate your due, but delays them getting all the $$. There’s also several groups who have ways to ‘conscientiously object’ to fed taxes… I googled it but don’t have names at my fingertips.
People need educated, and this article is a vehicle to doing that. The more people learn and understand, the more they will speak up and push back against those running the show or are complicit to it.
Thank you very much for speaking up with such clarity and experience. Just because the horrific damage is not visible to enough people, doesn't mean it's not killing all of us.
We need for all of us wherever we find ourselves to speak out as we can. Thank you Professor. Thankful you are American too.
I’m afraid that this is a sad result of the long slow erosion of our education system. Kids are not taught civics or government, the literacy rates are abysmal, especially in states where education is less funded. When the ability to think critically and the desire to read are eliminated, it paves the way for religion and politics to instill fear and division upon the ignorance. In the past 10 years I’ve seen science, compassion, expertise, critical thinking, civic engagement all vilified. Labeled as “ woke”, “elitism” and other labels which dehumanize and discredit any critical thinking. It’s something I have fought against my whole life and I instilled the respect for critical thinking and objectivity in my kids, and I allowed them to choose if they wanted to have religion in their lives or not. Too many kids… and adults have been steeped in this brew of religion and fear and division their whole lives now with no countering of these values.
Yes, education is fundamental, and what and how things are taught are critical.
The 1983 report "A Nation at Risk" should have been the warning to all, but it went unheeded. To many who benefited from excellent schools in the 60s and 70s were content to let the public schools wither so they could have low taxes, especially if that meant avoiding paying to educate a population that was increasingly diverse. And when I was in journalism school in the mid-80s, one of my professors warned that letting Rupert Murdoch in the door to start a fourth network would be the undoing of us all. At the time, the broadcast students were just excited about prospect of another place to apply for jobs. The end of the Fairness Doctrine and the rise of cable news, ahead of internet, social media and, of course, Citizens United have created a stream of steady blows to reliable information and a national consensus of facts.
NASA’s social media team has been posting in miles only, not miles and kilometers. This tells us everything.
It's a cryin', criminal shame what Trump and his monkeys are doing to the scientific community, the education system, health care, even weather forecasting! We're being "governed" by a troop of chimpanzees!
Oh, now you are giving chimps a bad name! A bunch of Gollum's looking after the Precious is more like it.
I no longer recognize my country…. 🥺
Thank you, Dr. Szostak for articulating what so many of us feel. However, your personal journey stands out precisely for the vision and opportunities you saw in America. That you were willing to invest your intellect in our collective good makes your perspective especially important to me. Knowing it is similar to so many immigrant stories who brought the same passion for curiosity / experimentation and also public good--makes it especially saddening to read your chronicle of how far, and how fast, we've fallen.
I know we cannot give up hope, but it has suffered a mighty blow with the numerous ways the regime has cut science off from reality. It's one of the reasons I feel so deeply for the younger generations. It makes me sad to my core that they are being robbed not only of opportunities, but also the benefits.
This is a great article. Thank you for posting it.
Thank you for sharing and I am so sad, frustrated and embarrassed by the country that I love.
Wow, your article is spectacular and should be read by as many people as possible. I will share and ask others to do the same. My sincere thanks to you, Mr. Jack Szostak, for this summary and your decades of work.
Thank you for writing this article. I concur 100% and I am so concerned about our standing in the world as we leave science behind, leave arts behind, leave immigrants behind, leave education behind and more so that greed, corruption, oligarchy etc takes place in its place. I enjoy Home of the Brave because just ordinary people speak up. And that's what we have to do as collective...we in all communities must speak up. Thank you again and I wish you well.
🚫👑 🚫👑 🚫👑 🚫👑 🚫👑 🚫👑
‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
VOTE EVERY REPUBLICAN OUT
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🚫👑 🚫👑 🚫👑 🚫👑 🚫👑 🚫👑
https://thiswillhold.substack.com/p/melania-trump-has-an-amanda-ungaro?r=abm5w&utm_medium=ios
Luckily for you Jack you are white. The deportations are reserved for the non-whites for now. I'm sure they'll move on to include the whites that they believe aren't the right sort of white soon but meanwhile......Vance is doing what no leader or Vice leader of a country has ever done. Playing a part in another country's election so openly. On stage with Hungary's hated president and rallying for him! I know they've done it behind the scenes before but this just proves that America doesn't care what the world thinks. Only what those dictators think. Stop paying taxes and see how long it takes to 25th this paedophilic liar.
thank you for your contributions to the country I love and the democracy we depend on for our freedom. Damn the aspiring autocrats who strive to destroy it for their own personal gain.
I hope your message reaches far and wide to all corners of this country and in between. Thank you!
William, I so agree. At one time, the state attorneys general were looking at the possibility of withholding federal income taxes to this lawless regime. While we, as citizens, cannot withhold tax payments without a substantial penalty, the thought was that the states could hold this money as leverage to correct this incompetent, lawless, and vile administration. I know the AGs are inundated with other battles to fight, but if this is possible, itwould create a powerful tool for reining in the Federal Government. Writing a check for taxes this year was excruciatingly painful for me when I considered that the money is used to extort, bomb, and maim innocent people, destroy science and the environment, all while enriching the Trump administration. Perhaps we should all contact our state AGs to see if this is under consideration. Hopefully, California will take the lead as the world 4th largest economy where withholding funds would likely have an immediate impact.
Christopher Armitage on Substack has a lot of great ideas on just this. He also has sample letters for every state AG and Secretary of State one can send. It’s called ‘soft secession’. I’ve filed extensions the last 2 years… have to estimate your due, but delays them getting all the $$. There’s also several groups who have ways to ‘conscientiously object’ to fed taxes… I googled it but don’t have names at my fingertips.
People need educated, and this article is a vehicle to doing that. The more people learn and understand, the more they will speak up and push back against those running the show or are complicit to it.