Thanos posted an interesting survey about the liberalism of the scientific community. I commented there, but I wanted to repost here where people might actually see it.

Before anyone goes off and sees this as evidence of a vast liberal scientific conspiracy, or that scientists only do what they do for the funding (as provided by a vast liberal conspiracy, which given the last eight years is clearly preposterous) please consider the following facts.

First off, what kind of liberal are you talking about vs. what kind of conservative are you talking about? The poll gives no information on this.

As a scientist let me say…

Given that many “conservatives” these days are very strongly anti science in that they deny evolution and AGW or any science that they do not like for political or religious dogmatic reasons, as a scientist, if this were my measure - as in who actually likes actual science more, I would have to be called a liberal. However, this says nothing about my dissaproval of many of Obama’s policies or my disdain for Pelosi.

Given that many “conservatives” see science as something subordinate to either the needs of big business or to the military, and not something valuable in it’s own right, by that standard, I would have to be a liberal. But that says nothing about the fact that I support a strong military and that I do think that there is nothing wrong with making a profit out of better technology.

Given that many “conservatives” AGW aside, see nothing wrong with pollution if it is good for business, by that standard, I would have to be a liberal. But this does not mean I am anti business, it just means that I know how disgusting a CAFO is, that I like breathing fresh air more than smog and that I wouldn’t want to live in Love Canal.

Given that education is one of the first things that many “conservatives” go to cut, by that standard I am a liberal. It is not that the Dems have a stellar record on education themselves, but they do not seem to have the animus for it that is seen in the GOP. And while we are at it, as a scientist, I’m sorry, I like the idea of having smart people as my representatives. As an educated person, listening to “folksy” ignorant politicians makes me cringe. Everyday folks are great. They’re good people. That doesn’t mean I want them running my country. Nope, I want the smartest, toughest, best informed, shrewdest and most honest SOB we can get. Policies aside, the GOP has quite the track record of running people who can’t string together a coherent sentence and who would have gotten C’s or worse in the classes I teach. I would like to think that my leaders know more and not less than me. However much you may like W. or Palin, please do not try to tell me that either is a particularly sharp individual.

Also while we are at it, there is much that “conservatives” have become that have nothing to do with classical conservatism. Given that most scientists do not have as an article of religious faith that abortion, or gay marriage are the most pressing problems in America, most of us simply don’t tune into that wavelegnth. The second ammendment is another example. Even amongst those of us who own firearms and enjoy shooting (like me), almost none of us thinks that the second ammendment gives everyone the right to pack whatever heat they want whenever they want. By those standards, if that is your measure of conservative, we are liberals too.

Bottom line, this poll represents a backlash against what “conservatives” have become - not nescessarily against notions that used to matter to conservatives, like fiscal responsibility, pragmatic foreign policy and a strong military.