I have a degree in biology. I studied the subject because of a passion for the subject. I was pretty sure it wouldn't make me rich and though I'm not right often... You guessed it, I'm not at all wealthy.
The world will face some enormous challenges sooner than later. A population that continues to grow that can only be kept in check through contraception and methods currently quite taboo in nature. And war and novel diseases. A mass extinction is underway and on this subject, I can't help but consider it prudent to look at worst case scenarios first. There's no point beating around the bush. As far as I'm concerned (and nobody really has any sort of clue how it will all end up unfolding), I can see a barren planet devoid of life, save for bacteria, fungal spores and their ilk. Maybe cockroaches. Maybe not. And all this needn't be that far into the future.
I'm probably quite a nihilist as well. I have no children as of yet (mostly through choice) and whilst I mostly would like the planet to live in harmony with its nature for many a day, should the worst happen, the universe will move on without us and I can just about accept that, also. Life is but a spark that transformed mineral matter into sentient beings that some day once more must all return to being nothing more than mineral matter. Like a will o'the wisp, you could say. It's fleeting and some day will have to come to an end (unless we leave the planet successfully, battlestar galacta style).
We can and maybe should attempt to delay the inevitable though?
That's why we need biologists as world leaders.
I would never want the job so I hereby remove myself from all considerations on this subject. But Richard Dawkins would probably be a good candidate for a trial-run in the UK (where I reside). He knows his biology like few others and is already a public figure. On the downside, he is getting on a bit. He's just got to be persuaded to run in a general election and capture the public's imagination.
He just needs to be a figurehead. One with a CONSCIENCE.
As the British prime minister, he elects a cabinet of ministers he trusts to be competent in the roles he needs to fill. They'd get on with running the country under his supervision whilst he wines and dines other biologist world leaders. Biology has numerous subdivisions, of course. Environmental science being one of them.
How could we really fuck up the world for our children, for Donald J Trump's grandchildren if biologists are in charge?
We could but it's got to be less likely. Entrepreneurial politicians' concerns are first and foremost about making money, for themselves, mostly, moreover. They will NEVER be good for the planet and humankind's chances of prolonging its survival on it. And even if we insist on maintaining merely a short-term outlook, we witness ever-more extreme weather phenomena with each passing year. Death and misery is okay so long as it's not in your backyard? Surely, we're better than that?
We need rid of this odious toad - asap
Let me know what you think...
Dawkins / Douglas Memes - Public Domain