87% Americans: Candidates should have basic understanding of science informing policy

http://ift.tt/1hsUbHG

Quote:

An overwhelming majority of Americans (87%) say it is important that candidates for President and Congress have a basic understanding of the science informing public policy issues, including majorities across the political spectrum (92% of Democrats, 90% of Republicans and 79% of Independents). ... A majority of Americans (77%) say that public policies should be based on the best available science (82% of Republicans, 81% of Democrats, and 68% of Independents), while 84% of Americans agree that science should not be partisan, that is, not the sole business of one political party or another (87% of Republicans, 83% of Independents and 82% of Democrats).

Two things come to mind right away. First, there is no way 87% of Americans themselves understand basic science and thus are pretty much unable to determine which politician knows their science. Second, if that many really believed this, most of the republican field seems unqualified for president.