Dumbest Education Question of 2019 So Far

[sanantone]

Congrats to Rep. Thomas Massie for asking the dumbest education question of 2019. 

“So, how do you get a bachelor of arts in science?” the congressman asked.

It is true that John Kerry has a BA in a social science and not a natural science, but there are many schools that offer BAs in the natural sciences and even computer science. All of Harvard's liberal arts programs are BAs. Harvard even has a BA in Computer Science. 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/john-kerry-thomas-massie-climate-change

[dfrecore]

Yes, I agree it was so dumb. Made him look like an idiot.

[cookderosa]

His degrees are from MIT, so that's his lens for what constitutes a degree. But still, he's clearly more qualified to discuss *actual* science than someone with a BA and JD - MIT's gen eds are going to be hard science whereas Yale's gen eds (assuming they haven't changed) only requires 2 science classes total- and it doesn't even stipulate lab or "for science major" as the level.
The problem with self-taught science is that it allows you to curate your own information without the expertise of someone smarter than you to help you sort out fact vs fiction.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Massie

[jsd]

haha, what a moron.

it's like him stating you have a bachelor's degree, and yet you're married! how can that be?

[sanantone]

His degrees are from MIT, so that's his lens for what constitutes a degree.  But still, he's clearly more qualified to discuss *actual* science than someone with a BA and JD - MIT's gen eds are going to be hard science whereas Yale's gen eds (assuming they haven't changed) only requires 2 science classes total- and it doesn't even stipulate lab or "for science major" as the level.  
The problem with self-taught science is that it allows you to curate your own information without the expertise of someone smarter than you to help you sort out fact vs fiction.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Massie

But, most people with PhDs in this specific area of science disagree with him. I would trust someone with a PhD or master's degree in climatology, meteorology, earth science, geology, or atmospheric science over someone with degrees in electrical and mechanical engineering. His engineering degrees aren't related to this area at all. Even people with degrees in environmental science, physics, chemistry, and biology are more qualified than he is.

---

haha, what a moron.

it's like him stating you have a bachelor's degree, and yet you're married! how can that be?

How do you have degrees in psychology and sociology and work in IT? You're an impostor.

[jsd]

I knew I'd be found out eventually

[sanantone]

Wait until he finds out that I have a BA, but I work in taxation without an accounting degree. His mind will be blown!

[topdog98]

We may agree or disagree with his (libertarian, a la Rand Paul) politics, but I think it is silly for us to call this guy "dumb," "idiot," and "moron." I looked him up. The guy is brilliant, a true genius. His master's thesis at MIT is entitled, "Initial haptic explorations with the phantom : virtual touch through point interaction." He won multiple awards at MIT for his inventions. He started a company where he invented a device that enables simulated tactile feeling of virtual things.

And he is a rare breed. Unlike politicians in general, who preach environmentalism for others, he practices self-sustainability. He lives with his family in an off-grid solar-powered house he constructed himself with a battery from a wrecked Tesla and stone from his property and timber that he cut and milled himself from trees on his property felled by a storm. He has a greenhouse on his property built down into the ground, so that he can grow vegetables year-round. How many other members of the US Congress are doing this stuff?

I can actually see why a guy like this is not impressed with a typical do-as-I-say-not-as-do politician with a BA in political science and an enormously huge carbon-footprint testifying about environmental science.

I am not trying to start a political debate, but it is silly to question this particular guy's intellect.

[sanantone]

We may agree or disagree with his (libertarian, a la Rand Paul) politics, but I think it is silly for us to call this guy "dumb," "idiot," and "moron." I looked him up. The guy is brilliant, a true genius. His master's thesis at MIT is entitled, "Initial haptic explorations with the phantom : virtual touch through point interaction." He won multiple awards at MIT for his inventions. He started a company where he invented a device that enables simulated tactile feeling of virtual things.

And he is a rare breed. Unlike politicians in general, who preach environmentalism for others, he practices self-sustainability. He lives with his family in an off-grid solar-powered house he constructed himself with a battery from a wrecked Tesla and stone from his property and timber that he cut and milled himself from trees on his property felled by a storm. He has a greenhouse on his property built down into the ground, so that he can grow vegetables year-round. How many other members of the US Congress are doing this stuff?

I can actually see why a guy like this is not impressed with a typical do-as-I-say-not-as-do politician with a BA in political science and an enormously huge carbon-footprint testifying about environmental science.

I am not trying to start a political debate, but it is silly to question this particular guy's intellect.

It's great that he lives a green lifestyle, but being an expert in one area doesn't make you an expert in all areas. Part of being smart is knowing your limits and when to listen to people who know more than you do. There are others living green lifestyles who disagree with his stances. 

There are behavioral and social aspects to sustainability and conservation. There are many STEM folks who don't understand human behavior and family economics. How do you get individuals to change their behavior? Environmental studies aren't just about the science of what's harmful; it's about getting people and companies to act differently. 

We also have to think about individual capabilities. How many people have the time, money, and skills to do what Massie did? Are you going to expect a single parent with a high school diploma to build a house that's off the grid? Are you going to expect that person to purchase a $40k Tesla? What that person can do is use public transportation if a viable public transportation system were available.

[topdog98]

We also have to think about individual capabilities. How many people have the time, money, and skills to do what Massie did? Are you going to expect a single parent with a high school diploma to build a house that's off the grid? Are you going to expect that person to purchase a $40k Tesla?

No, of course not, but I expect that Kerry has the money to do what Massie did, but not the inclination, and definitely not the skills, which was the point of Massie's line of questioning.