Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson had choice words for the state of Florida, saying he was “astonished” by Gov. Rick Scott’s administration’s alleged ban on using the words “climate change,” thinkprogress.org reported.
Speaking as part of a lecture series in Sarasota, Florida and at a press conference before it, the renowned scientist and science communicator said that he thought that the U.S., as a country, was above using science as a political debate. Tyson also said voters held responsibility for electing lawmakers like Scott, which points to the need to better educate voters about issues like climate change.
“I don’t blame the politicians for a damn thing because we vote for the politicians,” he said. “I blame the electorate.”
Earlier this month Florida Center for Investigative Reporting reported that at least a dozen DEP employees and employees from other state agencies had come forward to confirm there was an unofficial policy not to use terms like “climate change” and “global warming,” within the Scott administration.
According to Tyson, Florida officials should be worrying about what to do to prepare the state for the imminent threat of sea level rise, rather than restricting state workers from talking about climate change.
“Now we have a time where people are cherry picking science,” he said. “The science is not political. That’s like repealing gravity because you gained 10 pounds last week.”
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