Show of HandsShow of Hands

Mattwall1 June 3rd, 2014 12:58am

Assuming creationism &/or intelligent design should be taught alongside evolution in science class as equally valid to provide a balanced viewpoint, should communism &/or socialism be taught alongside capitalism as equally valid to be balanced?

11 Liked

Comments: Add Comment

professorwho Madness and Genius
06/03/14 10:10 pm

Everyone should see both sides of the coin.

Reply
tenletters New York
06/03/14 9:05 pm

Not an apt analogy.

Reply
chinito Florida
06/03/14 4:30 pm

People are forgetting that schools are for teaching and not brainwashing. Kids should learn what is Evolution, creationism, capitalism, communism...
Teachers can say who believes what and why. Then the student can form an opinion.

Reply
Diknak Ohio
06/03/14 5:34 am

lol, I don't see how they are connected. The creationism/evolution argument is about science that has a right answer. The other is about methodology of government, to which there isn't a single right answer.

Reply
rons Thanks America
06/03/14 5:29 am

That what the professors teach today anyway!

egglayer
06/03/14 5:21 am

How else are we to learn? Teach it all, then let the educated make an informed decision.

Reply
Torfin Never Behind
06/03/14 2:33 am

It already was.

Reply
pinkyusuck The Carribean. I wish.
06/03/14 12:12 am

Personally, I don't believe that evolution should be taught at all. Same with communism/socialism.

Reply
MisterE Conservistan
06/02/14 10:51 pm

That's not a very good analogy. At least with socialism vs capitalism, there is still debate within the political community.

Reply
kscott516 Revelation 5 6
06/03/14 5:13 am

This user is currently being ignored

TalkPolitics Chevy Chase, MD
06/02/14 9:43 pm

We need to teach our kids what we know in schools. We know evidence supports evolution. We (the majority of Americans) think creationism really happened. We shouldn't ask/force kids to believe anything. We should give them all available evidence and

Reply
TalkPolitics Chevy Chase, MD
06/02/14 9:44 pm

let them develop their own opinions. Sorry creationists, but you have zero evidence :/

pinkyusuck The Carribean. I wish.
06/03/14 12:13 am

Clearly you've never taken a serious look at the evidence for Creation.

TalkPolitics Chevy Chase, MD
06/03/14 2:33 pm

Have for years. I beg you to please share any evidence that you can with me. If you can prove evolution wrong and creation correct, you are more than deserving of a Nobel prize. I want to be proven wrong. That's how we progress.

pinkyusuck The Carribean. I wish.
06/03/14 5:43 pm

Follow up. I'm working into a series of questions on the topic.

pinkyusuck The Carribean. I wish.
06/04/14 8:26 am

I haven't posted them yet. I've been researching the topic further lately.

jayfreeman
06/02/14 8:35 pm

Matt, I have to say I'm amazed at the number of polls you post, and the timelines of you responses, for a full time student. Do you ever study?

Reply
Mattwall1
06/02/14 10:47 pm

Yes, I do study a lot actually.

Burntwaffle VA Politics and Pie
06/02/14 8:33 pm

Lets teach:
•Alchemy in Chemistry
•Geocentricism in astronomy
•Flat earth in geography.
•Creationism in biology

Why not? All of these have an equal amount of support from the scientific community and they can all be found in 2,000 year old books.

Reply
sadewt Rexburg, Idaho
06/02/14 7:59 pm

no, creationism shouldnt be taught in schools, but communism/socialism should

Reply
fredd TrumpLand
06/02/14 6:49 pm

I don't think this comparison is fair. Communism and socialism fall into the same category as capitalism. Creationism/Intelligent design belong to religious studies, not science.

Reply
skinner Jersey City
06/02/14 6:48 pm

Sure I don't see why not. I am all in favor of people being educated and reaching their own conclusions on topics like economic policy. I believe, when presented with the facts of each system, that most people will support capitalism.

DavesNotHere where am I
06/02/14 6:33 pm

Of course. How can you teach that our way is better than their way if you don't teach what their way is?

Reply
Zod Above Pugetropolis
06/02/14 6:28 pm

The initial assumption is so far false I can't even use it as the premise for a thought experiment. In no way is "intelligent design" or the religion of "creationism" in any way related to science, much less equally valid as science.

Reply
Zod Above Pugetropolis
06/02/14 6:32 pm

But communism and socialism should be taught alongside capitalism. Those are all workable economic systems and parts of each appear in our society today.

Arananthi Literal Ninja
06/02/14 6:50 pm

This. Claiming that creationism should be taught alongside evolution is absurd. "Because some people believe in it" isn't an argument for teaching it in school. Being currently-accepted scientific theory totally is. Myths aren't that, accepted or no.

Mattwall1
06/02/14 7:00 pm

I agree pseudo science is absurd and that the some people believe in it therefore idea is bunk. But, enough people seem to feel the second idea is valid that I felt the need to ask this

jackietheman Just Stop...
06/02/14 8:25 pm

Communism and socialism have never worked on a large scale. Ever. They failed in Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and all of Eastern Europe.

Mattwall1
06/02/14 8:27 pm

That's also true. Communism has failed.
And despite that, creationism is still utter bunk and pseudo science.

jonny323
06/02/14 10:19 pm

What failed in those countries was not communism. Communism does not mean steal a large majority of your country's wealth to fund over militarization.

jackietheman Just Stop...
06/03/14 5:11 am

Now, those were the only attempts to reach communism through socialism. They all failed miserably.

rons Thanks America
06/03/14 5:33 am

Problem today is the math professors are teaching communism and socialism.

Liberty 4,032,064
06/02/14 6:06 pm

No particular viewpoint should be "taught" anyway.

Reply
CalTexHawk spiral arm
06/02/14 6:03 pm

Creationism and Devine intervention should only be taught as what they are...constructs of religious thought. So they belong in a Comparative Religion class which I doubt would be taught in a public school.

Reply
CalTexHawk spiral arm
06/02/14 6:05 pm

Socialism and communism are always identified as alternative economic thought and not passed off as something they are not, like a form of mathematics. Therefore I don't think the analogy works. And, yes, they should be taught in public school.

CalTexHawk spiral arm
06/02/14 6:05 pm

Thought provoking question.

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:11 pm

I agree that they are alternative economic thought and that creationism and ID belong in a coma price religion class, not science class. From what I've seen, advocates for creationism and ID want them brought up as valid alternatives because some

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:12 pm

People believe them. I don't think they're valid, but if we let x in because only teaching y might offend someone's religious beliefs even if there is no scientific evidence, where do we draw the line? I agree that communism and socialism are, and

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:14 pm

Should, be described as alternative economics. The main issue isn't do much whether or not communism is workable but, if we let x in, why not y? Or z? Or €?

CalTexHawk spiral arm
06/02/14 6:28 pm

You include any economic theory. You include NO pseudo-science

fracy A deeper shade of blue.
06/02/14 6:02 pm

Sure. It'll help students form their viewpoints on economics.

Reply
veritas1 Panda
06/02/14 6:02 pm

Creationism is not science so it has no place in a science classroom.

Communism and socialism are, however, integral parts of world history and economic theory and therefore are deserving of that treatment.

Reply
Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:06 pm

I've definitely seen communism and socialism taught in Econ and history textbooks, but never as valid concepts, ie "just as capitalism works, so can communism or socialism" or something like that. I've seen communism is x capitalism y

CalTexHawk spiral arm
06/02/14 6:30 pm

No economic theory should be promoted in the curriculum. Only taught as fact. If a country "fails" the teach might ask why students think it failed and if they identify the economic system then so be it...

CalTexHawk spiral arm
06/02/14 6:31 pm

...but the teacher should not use that as an argument to promote the variant of capitalism active in the USA.

Mattwall1
06/02/14 7:01 pm

Personally, I agree with that.

jonny323
06/02/14 10:28 pm

I have taken ECON classes where the professor taught the pros and cons of each economic theory along with the cold hard facts about what each one means, but never so much of a, "I like this theory because..." deal.

Mattwall1
06/02/14 10:46 pm

Jonny-to be fair, college rods and high school teachers are different animals

CalTexHawk spiral arm
06/03/14 4:20 am

He, he...some of them are rods

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:00 pm

Personally, I say no since I don't think creationism should be taught anyway, nor do I find communism a valid and workable economic theory. But, if we should include one idea as valid because some hold it to be true, where is that line drawn?

Reply
ProFreedom Wisdom beyond my years
06/02/14 6:05 pm

Do you agree that public schools should should offer an elective that teaches theocracy? For all major religions.

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:09 pm

Theocracy? Or theology? I have nothing against an elective like a comparative religions class so long as it remains an elective and isn't mandated to be taken.

ProFreedom Wisdom beyond my years
06/02/14 6:12 pm

Theocracy along with theology, but yes it shouldn't be a required course, unless it's a private school.

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:16 pm

A comparative religions or theology elective? Sure if the school had the funds for it. Theocracy class? I'm not so sure teaching a class on how to create a government based on religion, that officially recognizes ONE religion and deity (or set of

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:17 pm

Deities) as official and valid, and governed by officials pursuant to only a certain religion or seen as the leaders of said religion is a good idea.

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:01 pm

As equally valid to capitalism, or brought up that they are also economic theories that exist?

ProFreedom Wisdom beyond my years
06/02/14 6:04 pm

as equally valid, we had a test each week on all types of economies

Mattwall1
06/02/14 6:07 pm

High school? Or college? I know my textbook at least was basically communism is x. Socialism is y. Capitalism is z. X and y are not workable. Z is and here are several hindered pages on why

ProFreedom Wisdom beyond my years
06/02/14 6:11 pm

They were taught as in depth as capitalism, we were taught they don't work, but we were taught the motives and economic strategies behind them