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Comment by jonreem | Hacker News Reader

The problem is when they start voting based on those beliefs and help elect representatives who then attempt to make policy for all of us based on those beliefs.

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Don't worry, if their beliefs are truly wrong, concrete consequences will start happening and people will see the error of their ways. For example if enough people stop vaccinating their children, common ilnesses will start spreading again and people will clamor for a fix.

My sense of the available evidence of the behavior of social groups with blatantly mistaken beliefs is that many don't 'see the error of their ways.'

When you apply this statement to other subjects (eg religion in government) it is rather depressingly incorrect.

Well theocratic governments used to be the norm in Western society. Then people realized that things like kings "ordained by God" and other such nonsense wasn't actually good for then. This might have to happen on a multi-generational level, but regardless people eventually realize what's good for them.

Lastly when you realize not to worry about people with illogical beliefs, and instead focus on educating those who are either open to information, or already support your beliefs you'll focus your energy on the things that you can actually change. Yelling, worrying or typing "you're wrong" to dogmatic religious adherents, homeopathic healers or conspiracy theorists is not going to change their mind.

I'm unwilling to be unworried by preventably sick kids who will carry the remnants of a serious illness for the rest of their lives. The consequences can be avoided if we act and talk now.

Do you think they shouldn't force their policy into you, but you can force yours into them? Why is your belief that you are right more entitled to use of force than theirs?

Policy based on science trumps bronze age mythology, so "it depends".

It is not obvious why.

To some. Yet it's still true. Go figure. If you honestly think about your bronze age superstitions enough you will eventually figure out why they can't possibly be true, and aren't even remotely ethical. Many other people, even children, have found the path out of that trap, and you can too, so don't give up hope. It will become obvious eventually.

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