Table of Contents
Jump to a section:
- Do We Still Trust Science?
- A Short History of Vaccines
- RFK Jr. and the Current Administration
- Congress and Political Reactions
- Why Deny Science—and What Happens If We Lose It?
- The Bigger Picture: What Do We Want to Believe?
Do We Still Trust Science?
Something that has been bothering me for a long time is how people today seem so quick to throw science away. A civilized society is built on science. It’s what has carried us forward, saved lives, and shaped history. During World War II, for example, it was scientists who worked together on the Manhattan Project. Whether you believe the use of the nuclear bomb was the right decision or not, the point is that it took some of the greatest minds from around the world to create it—and their work changed history.
And that science didn’t stop at weapons. The discoveries made in nuclear physics also paved the way for nuclear power, which provides electricity to millions of homes, and for medical advances like radiation therapy for cancer and nuclear imaging used in hospitals. Science that once fueled a war effort also became part of saving lives and powering our everyday world. (See: The Manhattan Project and Its Legacy – Atomic Heritage Foundation)
Science has always been a force that saves lives. Polio ravaged communities for decades. My mom remembers those days. She told us that when her children were born, getting us the polio vaccine was one of the first things she wanted done because she had seen the damage that disease caused. That vaccine changed everything. For my generation, polio wasn’t a daily fear—it was just another shot at the doctor’s office. That’s the power of science. (See: Polio Vaccine Development – CDC Museum)
I also remember how much science shaped my childhood in other ways. One of the big things we followed growing up was the space race with the Soviet Union. My mom gathered us all around the television when the Space Shuttle Columbia launched on April 12, 1981. It was the first shuttle launch, and we kids thought that kind of thing was neat anyway, so we didn’t mind sitting there. My mom told us, “History is being made.” She wanted us to witness what science could achieve. That memory has never left me. (See: First Shuttle Launch – NASA)
Science and technology also changed how we prepare for disasters. In June 1953, my mom was caught in the Beecher tornado in Flint, Michigan. At that time, there were no warning systems—people had no idea a tornado was coming until it was too late. My mom’s family survived, though their roof was torn off, but 116 people lost their lives that day. (See: The 1953 Beecher Tornado – National Weather Service) Today, weather science gives us radar, sirens, and apps on our phones that can tell us when to take cover. It doesn’t make storms disappear, but it gives people the chance to protect themselves—something families in 1953 didn’t have.
Science is in our everyday lives, too. Weather forecasting is a perfect example. Today we check our phones and know when it’s likely to rain or when a storm might hit. The forecasts aren’t perfect—nature has its own will—but they give us knowledge we never used to have. There was a time when hurricanes could suddenly strike without warning or tornadoes would come out of nowhere. Now, science gives us the chance to prepare. (See: How Weather Forecasting Works – National Weather Service)
Medicine tells the same story. Doctors today can detect illnesses earlier and treat them more effectively than ever before. None of that would be possible without science. And yet, despite all this progress, people now spread conspiracy theories about vaccines and dismiss lifesaving discoveries as though they were political tricks. Suddenly, vaccines that eradicated diseases are being called dangerous. The COVID vaccine is written off as “rushed” without any recognition of the research behind it.
So I have to ask: what happened? When did science—the very thing that has given us longer lives, safer lives, and extraordinary progress—become something so easily cast aside?
A Short History of Vaccines
When you look back at history, it’s clear that vaccines changed everything. Before they came along, families lived in constant fear of deadly outbreaks. Entire towns could be quarantined for smallpox, measles, or scarlet fever. We’ve all seen shows like Little House on the Prairie where people had to isolate because of illness—and that was reality for many families not all that long ago. Without vaccines, outbreaks often meant funerals.
My mom lived through the polio years. She remembers what that disease did to children and communities. When her kids were born, she made sure we were vaccinated against polio right away because she had seen the devastation firsthand. For my generation, polio wasn’t a daily terror—it was a shot in the arm that kept us safe. That’s the difference vaccines make. (See: Polio Vaccine Development – CDC Museum)
The one vaccine my mom was nervous about was the smallpox vaccine. She heard stories of children having serious side effects, and she worried about giving it to us. In reality, the smallpox vaccine could cause complications in rare cases, but the vast majority of children recovered quickly, and the vaccine eventually eradicated smallpox from the world. It was declared gone in 1980—the first disease humanity has ever completely wiped out. (See: History of Smallpox – CDC)
Today, my mom is more skeptical of vaccines. She has said that the COVID vaccine was “rushed” and isn’t like the others. But the truth is that COVID vaccines were tested just as rigorously as any other vaccine—what was different was the speed of development, made possible by decades of research, massive funding, and unprecedented global cooperation. (See: How COVID-19 Vaccines Were Developed – CDC) Just like the flu shot, the COVID vaccine doesn’t always prevent every infection, but it reduces the severity of illness and saves lives. I know from personal experience—I usually get a little nausea for a few hours after the shot, but I’ll gladly take that over getting COVID itself.
And side effects aren’t unique to COVID vaccines. I’ve never had a reaction to the flu shot, but some people do. The difference is that those mild side effects are nothing compared to the dangers of the diseases themselves. Vaccines are one of the safest and most effective tools we have.
Yet conspiracy theories keep circling. The most damaging is the false claim that vaccines cause autism. That idea came from a fraudulent 1998 study that has been completely debunked, but because people like RFK Jr. keep repeating it, many still believe it. Scientists around the world have studied millions of children, and the result is clear: vaccines do not cause autism. (See: Vaccines and Autism – WHO)
It’s frightening to me that people believe political figures over scientists who have devoted their lives to this work. The history is plain: vaccines turned killers into inconveniences. They kept children out of iron lungs, ended smallpox quarantines, and gave families freedom from constant fear. If we forget that history, we risk repeating it.
RFK Jr. and the Current Administration
What makes this moment especially alarming is that the very people in charge of protecting public health are the ones undermining it. RFK Jr., appointed by Donald Trump as Secretary of Health and Human Services, has built his career by questioning vaccines and promoting discredited theories. Instead of strengthening the scientific institutions that keep us safe, he has fired respected leaders at the CDC and replaced them with allies who echo his doubts. His “Make America Healthy Again” report highlights autism, vaccines, and other health concerns, but it leans heavily on suspicion and politics instead of established science. (See: RFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report – AP News)
Donald Trump stands with him. President Trump has said that “not everyone” needs the COVID vaccine—a statement that has no scientific basis. Vaccines only protect communities when enough people take them. Undermining that fact for political points doesn’t just mislead people—it puts lives at risk.
And it’s not just at home. Under Trump, the U.S. has turned its back on global cooperation as well, moving to withdraw from the World Health Organization—the very body created to coordinate international responses to health crises. That decision wasn’t based on evidence or science. It was political. And it sent a clear message to the rest of the world: America would rather isolate itself than work with others to solve problems that affect everyone. It made us look weaker, not stronger, and it undermined trust in the U.S. as a leader in global health.
Why are they doing this? Some say it’s about helping corporations avoid regulation, whether that’s fossil fuel companies fighting climate rules or industries pushing back against food and drug safety standards. Others see it as pandering to a base that’s grown skeptical of science and institutions. Maybe it’s both. But in the end, the reasons don’t change the result. The result is a government that spreads misinformation, dismisses experts, and makes the public less safe. And that is wrong—dangerously wrong.
When our leaders debunk science for political gain, they don’t just gamble with policy. They gamble with people’s lives.
Congress and Political Reactions
Congress hasn’t been silent about what’s happening. Democrats have been especially vocal, accusing RFK Jr. of showing a “reckless disregard for science and the truth.” In Senate hearings, they pressed him hard on his decision to fire top CDC officials and replace them with figures more aligned with his anti-vaccine views. They’ve warned that this kind of political interference doesn’t just weaken institutions—it erodes the public’s ability to trust science at all. (See: RFK Jr. Accused of ‘Reckless Disregard for Science’ – The Guardian)
Republicans, meanwhile, have largely stood by Trump and RFK Jr. Some defend their actions by claiming they are “protecting parental rights” or “questioning Big Pharma.” But those arguments fall apart when you look at the evidence. Vaccines are safe. They work. And if politicians truly cared about protecting families, they wouldn’t put politics above facts. It’s one thing for politicians to posture—that happens on both sides—but to actively debunk science that keeps us safe is another matter entirely. That isn’t protecting people. That’s endangering them.
I have a real problem with this. These leaders have access to the same data scientists do. They can see the studies. They can see the results. And yet they choose to reject it. Maybe they’ve convinced themselves, or maybe they’re doing it for corporate interests or political gain. But the end result is the same: they spread doubt where there should be clarity, and people get hurt because of it. That’s not leadership. That’s dangerous.
Not everyone in government is willing to go along quietly. On the West Coast, governors in California, Oregon, and Washington formed the West Coast Health Alliance—a direct pushback against federal policies that ignore science. These states have committed to keeping evidence-based vaccine rules in place and resisting efforts to weaken them. (See: California, Oregon, and Washington Form Vaccine Alliance – The Guardian)
This divide in Congress and across the states shows just how high the stakes are. Some leaders are fighting to defend science, while others are dismantling it. And the question we’re left with is this: do we want our government to be guided by evidence and truth, or by politics and paranoia?
Why Deny Science—and What Happens If We Lose It?
What’s the upside, from their perspective, of undermining science? Why would government officials erode public trust in research, data, and experts?
One factor is deregulation. When science is sidelined, industries—from fossil fuels to big pharma—can operate with fewer rules. That translates into bigger profits and less accountability. It’s a direct line from corporate power to weakened oversight. (See: Science and Democracy Under Siege – Union of Concerned Scientists)
Another tactic is manufacturing doubt. Instead of engaging with evidence, political players often stoke fear, uncertainty, and skepticism—creating the illusion that science isn’t settled, even when it is. That confusion stalls action and protects vested interests. (See: Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt – Wikipedia)
But what do the facts actually say? The vast majority of scientists agree on vaccines and climate—yet these truths get drowned out. Around 79% of people worldwide say vaccines are safe, compared to just 59% in the United States. (See: Global Vaccine Confidence – Gallup & Wellcome) On climate, the consensus is overwhelming: more than 99.9% of peer-reviewed studies affirm that humans are causing global warming. (See: 99.9% Consensus on Human-Caused Climate Change – Cornell) Most of the world accepts this and is moving forward with action, while here in America we’ve allowed politics to dominate the conversation. That doesn’t just weaken us at home—it puts us behind the rest of the world in shaping the future.
This isn’t just abstract. I’ve seen how important it is to check what you hear. Sometimes I’ll come across a claim, look it up through sources, and realize it wasn’t true at all. I’ve had to change my mind more than once. Years ago, I wasn’t sure climate change was really as bad as scientists said. But research convinced me otherwise—seeing the data, reading the studies, and watching stronger hurricanes, wildfires, and floods unfold right here in our lifetime. Once you see the evidence, it’s impossible to deny it. That’s why I believe so strongly in educating yourself: don’t just take a politician’s word for it. Go read, dig deeper, and learn what the facts really are.
All this adds up. When public trust in science falls—and it has, especially since the pandemic—policymakers lose the ability to act on issues like public health and climate change. Trust is falling faster among Republicans, but it’s slipping across the board. (See: Americans’ Trust in Scientists Continues to Decline – Pew Research Center)
That’s why oversight matters. No matter how well-intentioned a person might claim to be, power unchecked can harm the public. We can’t depend on everyone to “do the right thing.” Government needs transparent checks and balances to keep science honest—and ourselves safe.
Because if this erosion continues—if science becomes politics and not evidence—what happens next? Lives aren’t just statistics. Without science, we risk rejecting vaccines, ignoring climate threats, blocking essential health research—and watching with helplessness as disasters strike. This isn’t a future I want to live in, and it shouldn’t be the future we accept.
The Bigger Picture: What Do We Want to Believe?
As people, we all struggle with change. It’s part of human nature. I remember when I first heard that you’re not supposed to keep medicine in the bathroom cabinet. I thought it was silly—it’s called a medicine cabinet for a reason! But then I learned the truth: the moisture from showers and baths can damage pills and make them less effective. (See: Where to Store Your Medicines – FDA) I didn’t like the change at first, but once I understood why, it made sense.
My partner Josh had a similar experience. He used Q-tips for years to clean his ears, even though he often had painful ear infections and hearing problems. I looked it up and found what the experts say: Q-tips don’t really clean your ears—they just push wax further inside and can damage the ear canal. (See: Should I Use Cotton Swabs to Clean My Ears? – ENT Health) Josh admitted he liked the way it felt, but he realized it wasn’t worth the risk, and he mostly stopped using them. It’s another case where science tells us something we may not want to hear, but ignoring it only causes harm.
That’s the point. Whether it’s vaccines, climate change, or any other area of science, the facts sometimes clash with what we’re used to—or with what politicians tell us. It’s tempting to hold on to old beliefs or comforting myths. But science is about learning, testing, and changing course when new evidence comes along. If we refuse to listen, we stay stuck in the past, and worse, we put ourselves and others in danger.
I’ve had to change my own mind before. Years ago, I wasn’t convinced climate change was really as bad as people said. But the more I researched, the more I read, and the more I saw—stronger hurricanes, devastating floods, raging wildfires—the more I realized the scientists were right. The evidence was too overwhelming to ignore. And that’s the key: you have to look. You have to read. You have to check your sources and go beyond the soundbites. If you don’t, you risk believing a story that isn’t true.
So here’s the question we have to face as a country: do we want to live in a society guided by evidence and truth, or one where politics and paranoia rule the day? The rest of the world is moving forward, trusting the science and planning for the future. If we choose to fall back into beliefs not anchored in fact, we don’t just hurt ourselves—we weaken our standing in the world and gamble with our future.
Science isn’t always easy, and it isn’t always comfortable. But it is the best tool we have for survival. Ignoring it is not just careless—it’s dangerous.
Notes from the edge of the system 