Victory.

I met a young black comedian who was doing an opening act for some of our concerts, Richard Pryor. Man, he was a funny motherfucker. He didn’t have a reputation yet, but I knew he was going to be a big star. I could just feel it in my bones. I booked our band into the Village Gate and hired Richard to open for us. I have forgotten where I first heard him, but I just wanted people to know how great this motherfucker was. I paid him out of my own pocket and produced the whole thing. I think we were there for two weekends and the band and Richard just tore the place up. Richard opened and then we had some Indian music played by this sitar player and then my band played. It was really successful and I even made some money on the whole thing. Richard and I became good friends after that, and we would hang out and get high and just have a great time together. Miles Davis, New York, mid-1960s

From a USA Today Editorial by a “columnist” and a “political strategist” (there’s an expert panel, huh?) on ID:

What I find curious about this debate, not only in Pennsylvania, but in Kansas and throughout the country, is that so many scientists and educators are behaving like fundamentalist secularists. Only they will define science. They alone will decide which scientific theories and information will be taught to students. That sounds like mind control to me, Bob. If their science is so strong on the issue of origins, why not let the arguments supporting intelligent design into the classroom where it can be debunked if it can’t be defended? You liberals are always accusing us conservatives of censorship. It sounds like your side has picked up the disease on this one.

What chance do we have when this sort of bunk gets printed in the most widely distributed newspaper in the country? Believing is seeing. Let me see if I can condense the argument:

Scientists shouldn’t decide which scientific ideas are correct (or which ideas deserve to be called science). This task should be left to high school students who are taught by people who took two or three science courses in college.

Isn’t is OBVIOUS that when the ID theorists avoid discussing their ideas at scientific conferences and in scientific publications, but instead take them directly to school boards (consisting of elected members of the community that might not even have a college education) they are preying on people’s ignorance and gullibility?

I don’t blame them for falling for the ID’ers arguments. They are hired PR professionals and lawyers, expert at manipulating people. I blame them for thinking it is their place to make this decision in the first place. Would they feel qualified to vote on the proper treatment for a cancer patient? Or would they leave it to a doctor, and one who works within the medical community?

The problem is, they want to believe in ID so will. If you want to believe Saddam is hording WMDs you will find evidence (or misconstrue random facts as evidence) for it. You can believe whatever you want. But if you can’t distinguish between your beliefs and public information (facts), stay the hell out of public policy. There should be an entrance exam for politics…

Later: The letters to the editor that followed.