Require new Congressmen to undergo science training

Or, in the case of antiscientific nutbars like Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, let's not limit the training to newbies!

Seriously, though, Susanne Haga of Duke University notes that in Great Britain, such training is suggested of new Members of Parliament

The Conservative Party in Great Britain recently announced that it will include classes on scientific methodology and basic concepts in the orientation activities for all new Conservative members of Parliament after the next elections, specifically to address politicians' lack of scientific expertise.

Shadow Science Minister Adam Afriyie, the architect behind these new courses, says, "By building a base of scientific knowledge among politicians and officials, we aim to strengthen the role of science in policy making."

She then wonders why we possibly can’t or won’t install a similar requirement here.

Well, the obvious answer to the can’t or won’t is because Congress makes its own rules.

More seriously, though, we require initial and remedial training for county judges here in Texas; on the judicial side, other states require that for magistrate judges, JPs, etc., so requiring elected officials to undergo training isn’t even close to preposterous.

And, it would definitely boost President Obama's efforts to have science-based government policies.