Mitch McConnell ... Not a Critical Thinker ... or at least doesn't play one on TV

Mitch McConnell, the minority leader in the Senate, was asked what he thought about the impact of the Japanese nuclear disaster on the future of nuclear energy in the United States. McConnell, who is a proponent of nuclear energy, responded by saying: "I don't think right after a major environmental catastrophe is a very good time to be making American domestic policy."

This is perfectly logical. It is reasonable to wait and see what we learn about the nuclear disaster in Japan, before seeing what impact that event should have on how we deal with nuclear energy. It might, however, be wirthwhile to put any future plans on hold. But all in all, this is a reasonable statement and McConnell should have stopped here.

McConnell did not stop here, however. He then went on to say: "We ought not to make American and domestic policy based upon an event that happened in Japan." What? We can only learn from events that happen in America? What kind of nonesense is this? The only real reason to say something like this is because you believe the event may bring your position into question, which means you are more wedded to your position than to making decisions that are in the best interest of the country. At best this is small minded xenophobia. At worst it is special interest and party driven politics. In any event, it is this kind of thinking that we have to challenge wherever and whenever it occurs. We can, and should, all have different opinions. We should not all have different ways of forming our opinions or arguing for them. Logic, openess to others and their ways of doing things, and collaboration should be universal values.