Last night, president Barack Obama sought to inspire the US political system to do better. Rather than the usual list of programmes or new initiatives, he used his final State of the Union address to set out some of the big-picture problems US democracy faces. He made sure to include the vital role of science in tackling those problems.
“Sixty years ago, when the Russians beat us into space, we didn’t deny Sputnik was up there,” Obama said. “We didn’t argue about the science, or shrink our research and development budget. We built a space program almost overnight, and twelve years later, we were walking on the moon… That spirit of discovery is in our DNA.”
Obama’s vision – of a thriving economy, innovation in fields like energy and medicine, and a democratic process that works for everyone, not just the powerful – requires the importance of scientific knowledge to be recognised across society.
Why does this unity matter so much? “Democracy grinds to a halt without a willingness to compromise; or when even basic facts are contested, and we listen only to those who agree with us,” Obama said. “Our public life withers when only the most extreme voices get attention.”
The president highlighted the enormous tension created by increasing inequality in our society. He clearly recognised that the rate of change in society is accelerating, leaving many people on the sidelines. He pointed to the importance of affordable, high-quality education and the danger of having powerful interests elbow out the voices of marginalised communities.
“Most of all,” he said, “democracy breaks down when the average person feels their voice doesn’t matter; that the system is rigged in favour of the rich or the powerful or some narrow interest.”
He pushed us to engage at all levels of society.
“What I’m asking for is hard. It’s easier to be cynical; to accept that change isn’t possible, and politics is hopeless, and to believe that our voices and actions don’t matter. But if we give up now, then we forsake a better future. Those with money and power will gain greater control over the decisions that could send a young soldier to war, or allow another economic disaster, or roll back the equal rights and voting rights that generations of Americans have fought, even died, to secure.”
Given political resistance from his opponents to measures on climate and energy, what hope? In fact, we heard a theme of reconciliation from Republican Nikki Haley, who gave that party’s response. We can only hope that the tenor of these two addresses will carry forward as the presidential race develops.
As a scientist, I know how important it is that we listen to the president’s message, reject cynicism, and engage in public life. That means sharing expertise with the groups who have traditionally lacked access. It means talking about our expertise with policymakers and defending our peers when they are attacked by powerful interests.
All Americans benefit when science plays a role in public policy – in protecting our health, defending our climate and building a stronger, fairer economy.
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