Open Letter to Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson

    Dear Bill Nye and Neil deGrasse Tyson,

This is an open letter to you and I hope that you get it.

With the political turmoil that we are dealing with and the widening gaps in our society
be it in education, economic status, social status, etc; we are faced with a series of new
challenges. The American population in general is becoming restless with politics and
politicians. The approval ratings for the last two presidents have record low approval rating
and the approval ratings for congress is the lowest historically of any group. Politics has
become more polarized and the political process has come grinding to a halt. The national
government has become essentially unable to pass any progressive laws. This is not only
frustrating for those of us who are watching but is becoming increasingly dangerous. The
rules that are in place right now favor interests that have representation through the lobbying process.

What you both represent in the world is quite different than what our politicians represent. You are both popular science educators. More important than what you do than disseminate science education is that you both create interest in the fields of science, the history of science, general education and engineering. The reason that you create interest is that you both highly value truth, honesty, respect, clarity and integrity, as well as allowing your excitement for the subject to show.

I understand that you have hesitations about seriously considering running for office as you are educators and are not politically savvy. As well, you lack ties that most established politicians have. In running for office these things matter, a lot, and I’m not denying this, but to think that winning an election is the only point for running for an office is a mistake and a misunderstanding of how politics work today.

Recently Scotland had a democratic vote on a referendum on whether to secede from the United Kingdom. Compared to the United States’ presidential elections, the results from the referendum wasn't close, though the results had an astonishingly high turnout of 85% of those able to vote. The referendum failed 55%-45%. On the face of it, it appears that nothing happened. However, when you look more closely at what resulted as a part of that process there is plenty of positive change to find. Scotland as a result has more autonomy as part of the United Kingdom than it ever has and is reengaged in the democratic process in an entirely new way.

While there are a lot of differences between running for a political office in the United States and creating a movement to have a referendum to secede as a country from the UK, I think that there are lessons to be learned from what happened there. The United States is more socially malleable than it has ever been with the creation and utilization of the internet and social media. I think that you are in an unique position where you can shift the paradigm of the United States in a way that has never been attempted or done. You can bring Science into Politics.

Now just imagine the kind of social waves that would result from having a popular science educator throw his hat into the political ring. Just imagine what the media reaction would be to that. How much more would important social subjects such as evolution, climate change and renewable energy be discussed? Even if you polled in at 5% it would be a huge story and it would send two major messages to groups in our society. Firstly, it would send a message to politicians that science, science education and science literacy matter to voters and can cause a swing in important elections. Secondly it would send a message to aspiring scientists, engineers and educators that their voice does matter in the political world and that they and science can make a permanent difference.

I would like to close with this thought; If you don’t run for office that would be just fine. The world will keep on spinning, people will keep on living their lives the same as they did before, and politicians will keep on passing whatever policy has the correct financial and political backing. The reason that I’m writing this letter is because I feel obliged to. Knowing what I do about science, the course on which we are heading on and seeing how society and politicians keep on denying sciences which may lead to our very extinction; I felt I had to take the small action of writing this letter. I hope that there is something that can be done to stop humanity from continuing down the destructive and reckless path that we are on and correct us onto a peaceful and sustainable destiny. I know of no way to do this but through science education and no higher platform than that of the President or Presidential Candidate.

Thank you for your time in reading this.

Forever a fan,

                                 Joshua D Sroka